Saratoga Flag Company spent National Flag Week 2024 leading a group of USA flag dealers and makers to Washington, D.C., to press lawmakers on Chinese-made flags being sold online as USA-made, the Saratoga Business Journal reported on September 17, 2024.
The trip
- The National Independent Flag Dealers Association brought 13 family businesses from around the country.
- The group knocked on more than 100 doors in the Senate and House.
- They asked members to co-sponsor the Make American Flags in America Act (H.R. 4137 and S. 2001).
- They also backed closing the de minimis loophole, which lets packages under $800 enter without duties or routine inspection.
What the dealers found
The group said that in one Amazon search for USA-made flags, only 2 of 100 listings were really made in the USA. It said most imported USA flags sold online come from one of four factories in China, and that more than 75 percent of flags turned in for retirement in its upstate New York area are now Chinese-made.
Why it matters
The trip came weeks after the All-American Flag Act became law, which covers flags the federal government buys. The dealers say the bigger threat is the consumer market, where false origin claims on cheap imports undercut USA flag factories.
FAQ
Who led the trip?
Saratoga Flag Company, with the National Independent Flag Dealers Association and 13 family flag businesses.
What bill did they push?
The Make American Flags in America Act, H.R. 4137 in the House and S. 2001 in the Senate.
What is the de minimis loophole?
A rule that lets imports valued under $800 enter the USA without duties and routine inspection.
Source & credit
Source: Saratoga Business Journal, September 17, 2024: “Saratoga Flag Company Leads Delegation To Washington To Protest Chinese Flag Imports”, by Jake Van Ness.