Gifts Under the Tree, for Johnny, Suzie, and Chairman Xi

American Thinker ^ | 28 Nov, 2023 | John F. Di Leo

[MtnClimber]

I don’t often take advantage of Black Friday deals, but I needed a set of tires, so I steeled myself for battle, and entered the hunt.

The one thing most shops don’t advertise online is the country of origin (I wonder why), so I handled that part by phone. I called the shop, identified the deal I was looking for, and asked them to check the country of manufacture (as far as I’m concerned, USA would be nice, but I don’t want tires made in China). He put me on hold while he looked at the tire, and returned with the news: Singapore!

Great, I said, we’ve got a deal.

So I looked at it when they were done, and it turns out, the tire says “Designed in Singapore.” But I kept looking. I knew that if the tire said where it was designed, then it would also say where it was made. Sure enough, I found, in the same small font, a few inches away: “Made in Thailand.”

I got a good deal; I’ll be safe in the snow now—and they’re not made in China. I’m happy.

But it made me curious. With the holiday season upon us, and everyone shopping for gifts over the next few weeks, I wonder if everyone knows the sometimes unexpected American rules that govern origin marking on our Christmas presents.

The following are the standard, with aspects enforced principally by either the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection or the Federal Trade Commission. There are some products that depart from these rules, but these are the basics.

1. Generally speaking, there is no requirement to mark a domestic product with country of origin. This means that if you’re shopping in the USA, and something is unmarked, that should mean it was made...

[MtnClimber]

I also look to make sure things I buy are not made in China.

[Bernard]

I was in the gift shop at the John Wayne museum in WInterset, Iowa this summer. Every coffee mug in the place was marked, "Made in China". I pointed that out to the lady at the register, and told her I would have been happy to buy one if they were made somewhere else. Don't know if that comment ever got back to anybody in charge, but at least I started the discussion.

[BBB333]

“I got a good deal; I’ll be safe in the snow now—and they’re not made in China. I’m happy”

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Need snow tires made in the US of A?

HAKKAPELIITTA 9

Made in Dayton, OH

https://www.nokiantyres.com/company/about-us/production/

[libertylover]

When I buy tires, I make sure they are an American or European company, but I bought a used car with Chinese made tires and they were really good - stayed balanced and lasted a long time.

[Responsibility2nd]

I also look to make sure things I buy are not made in China.

__________________________________________

Says a Climber who’s using a Chinese computer.

(just sayin’)