BY MIRABEL ODETA
President Donald Trump directed his administration on March 13 to step up enforcement against foreign manufacturers and sellers who falsely claim their products are made in the United States, as part of an executive order aimed at ensuring truthful labeling and protecting American businesses.
The White House described the move as a core component of Trump’s “America First” economic agenda. “President Trump is putting America First by ensuring consumers can trust ‘Made in America’ claims and that U.S. manufacturers’ advertising value is not diluted by fraudulent foreign entities,” a White House fact sheet stated.
Trump highlighted the administration’s focus on domestic manufacturing in a speech at Verst Logistics on March 11, declaring, “We’re making more and more things in the USA, more than we ever have.”
The executive order directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chairman, Andrew Ferguson, to prioritize enforcement actions against sellers and manufacturers who misrepresent their products as “Made in America” or make similar false origin claims, which violate existing law. In addition, the order instructs all federal agencies responsible for country-of-origin labeling to consult with the FTC chairman about potential new regulations and guidance aimed at encouraging companies to voluntarily label products manufactured in the United States.
Agencies overseeing government acquisition contracts and schedules are also required to review and verify American-origin claims for products sold to the federal government. Items that misrepresent their origin are encouraged to be removed, and violators may be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice for enforcement under the False Claims Act. The White House emphasized that “true American-made businesses—which invest onshore in jobs, communities, and production—deserve undiluted branding benefits and protection from unfair competition by fraudsters.”
During his first term, Trump signed multiple executive orders encouraging Americans to buy domestic products and hire U.S. workers. Upon his return to office in 2025, he launched the America First Trade Policy to further boost domestic manufacturing and bring jobs back to the United States. The White House said his policies have attracted trillions of dollars in private and foreign investment aimed at strengthening U.S. manufacturing and workforce development.
Among these investments, Apple announced plans to invest $600 billion in U.S. manufacturing and workforce training, moving more of its supply chain back to the country over four years. Similarly, Meta Platforms, Inc. pledged $600 billion for AI technology, infrastructure, and workforce expansion by 2028. Another major initiative, Project Stargate, led by Japan-based SoftBank Group in partnership with OpenAI and Oracle Corporation, plans to invest $500 billion in U.S.-based AI infrastructure over four years.
The impact of these policies is reflected in recent manufacturing and employment data. In the third quarter of 2025, U.S. manufacturing output reached $2.95 trillion at an annual rate, representing about 10 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. Manufacturing employment has also increased, rising by 5,000 workers in January 2026 to reach 12,590,000 employees, although the total remains slightly below pre-pandemic levels, which averaged 12,613,000.
Trump’s executive order underscores a continued emphasis on protecting domestic industries, ensuring that “Made in America” labels are credible, and safeguarding American manufacturers from unfair competition by foreign companies making false origin claims. The administration’s actions are designed to reinforce consumer confidence, stimulate domestic production, and secure the economic benefits of homegrown manufacturing.
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