California, like most other U.S. states, long had a requirement that the vaunted “Made in USA” brand reflected all aspects of products which carried this description meant what it said — produced in America’s 50 states and its territories. This long-standing interpretation was that this brand inscription meant produced in American facilities by U.S. workers, to specifications and domestic quality control.
This iron-clad rule became challenged with the onslaught of imports in the 1980s, and the shift of production overseas by many reputable U.S. corporations. This led to some “illegal” attempts by some importers to use American brandnames, implying their particular product was “U.S.-manufactured.” This got them into trouble with customs officials, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Subsequent punitive action often resulted.