Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, wrote to President Donald Trump on July 18, 2017, during the White House’s “Made in America Week.” He asked the president to have the National Trade Council and the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy review S.118 and work with its supporters.
What S.118 would do
S.118 would keep the authority to set country-of-origin labeling standards with the federal government. States could not create their own standards for goods sold across state lines or exported. Its full name is the “Reinforcing American-Made Products Act.”
The sponsors were King and Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Mike Lee of Utah, Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia. King said the Senate Commerce Committee had reported the bill favorably in May 2017. He also said the National Association of Manufacturers and the Outdoor Industry Association supported it.
The California problem
The FTC standard requires that all or virtually all of a product be made in the USA. King’s letter said California set a stricter threshold that exposed manufacturers to litigation. He noted that class actions continued after California changed its law in September 2015.
The same fight soon reached the House. In August 2017, Rep. Darrell Issa said he planned to introduce a national-standard bill after visiting Maglite’s factory in Ontario, California.
The Senate later passed a version of the bill. See our coverage of the 2021 Senate vote.
FAQ
What is S.118?
A 2017 Senate bill to set one national Made in USA labeling standard that would override state rules.
Who sponsored it?
Sen. Angus King, with Sens. Collins, Lee, Fischer and Capito.
Why does California matter?
King said its stricter origin rule exposed manufacturers to class-action lawsuits.
Source & credit
Source: Office of Sen. Angus King: “During Made in America Week, King Urges President Trump to Help Advance ‘Made in USA’ Legislation”, July 18, 2017.