U.S. President Trump asked to include precious metals in ‘Made in America’ program

As part of its “Made in America” week, the White House is showcasing products from each state.

The weeklong celebration organized by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump honours the “amazing American workers and companies who have products that are made in America,” said Helen Ferre, White House director of media affairs, at a press conference on July 16.

MADE IN AMERICA

To showcase pride in their country and products, U.S. manufacturers can make claims for “Made in America” labeling—if they can prove all (or virtually all) of the product is of U.S. origin.

According to the Precious Metals Association of North America (PMANA), because jewellers across the country use precious metals that have been recycled from scrap, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission will not allow jewellers to make a “Made in America” claim because they cannot prove where the recycled scrap metal was originally mined—”a task that is nearly impossible,” according to a statement released by PMANA. It added precious metals like gold can be “recycled indefinitely without damaging its quality. In fact, as much as 90 percent of gold jewelry contains recycled materials that may have been mined centuries ago.”

“We applaud the president’s efforts to highlight the amazing manufacturing base we have in this country,” said Paul Miller, PMANA executive director.

“For some reason, federal bureaucracy has gotten in the way of allowing for certain products to be labeled Made in America, which has cost U.S. businesses millions in lost opportunities. We want to work with the president to clarify rules already in place that should make the Made in America labeling available to U.S. manufacturers, but due to incorrect interpretations of current policies, U.S. manufacturers are being held hostage and losing out on millions of dollars going to overseas competitors.”

50 COMPANIES

The list of the companies and products being showcased at the White House this week includes:

  1. Alabama: Altec (bucket trucks)
  2. Alaska: Alaska Bowl Co. (bowls)
  3. Arizona: PING Golf (golf clubs)
  4. Arkansas: Hytrol (conveyer belts)
  5. California: The California Wine Institute (wine)
  6. Colorado: Gordon Signs (neon signs)
  7. Connecticut: Sikorsky (helicopters)
  8. Delaware: ILC Dover LP (NASA space suit)
  9. Florida: Tervis (tumblers)
  10. Georgia: Chick Fil A (food)
  11. Hawaii: Koloa Rum Co. (rum)
  12. Idaho: Boise Cascade Co. (engineered wood floors)
  13. Illinois: Caterpillar (heavy equipment manufacturer)
  14. Indiana: Broomcorn Johnnys (brooms)
  15. Iowa: RMA Armament (body armour, dummies)
  16. Kansas: Grasshopper Co. (lawnmowers)
  17. Kentucky: Campbellsville Apparel Co. (apparel)
  18. Louisiana: Marucci Sports (baseball bats)
  19. Maine: Hinckley Yachts (yacht)
  20. Maryland: Eddie Heath’s Crab Pots (crab pot manufacturer)
  21. Massachusetts: St. Pierre Manufacturing Corp. (horseshoes)
  22. Michigan: Milton Manufacturing (fabric)
  23. Minnesota: Faribault Woolen Mill (wool blankets)
  24. Mississippi: Taylor Machine Works (forklift)
  25. Missouri: Beehler Corp. (door hinges)
  26. Montana: Simms Fishing (fishing gear)
  27. Nebraska: Greater Omaha Packing (beef)
  28. Nevada: Kimmie Candy (candy)
  29. New Hampshire: Cider Belly Doughnuts (doughnut company)
  30. New Jersey: Campbells Soup (soup)
  31. New Mexico: Desert Plastics (plastic Manufacturer)
  32. New York: Steinway (pianos)
  33. North Carolina: Cheerwine (soda)
  34. North Dakota: Dakota Outerwear Co. (military outerwear manufacturer)
  35. Ohio: Bully Tools (garden tools)
  36. Oklahoma: DitchWitch (trencher/excavator)
  37. Oregon: Leupold and Stevens (sights and scopes)
  38. Pennsylvania: Ames (wheel barrows)
  39. Rhode Island: Narragansett Brewing Co. (beer)
  40. South Carolina: Casual Cushion Co. (cushions)
  41. South Dakota: K Bar J Leather (shotgun chaps)
  42. Tennessee: Gibson Guitars (guitars)
  43. Texas: Stetson Hats (cowboy hats)
  44. Utah: Colonial Flag Co. (flags)
  45. Vermont; Dubie Family Maple (maple syrup)
  46. Virginia: National Capital Flag Co. (flags)
  47. Washington: Liberty Bottleworks (water bottles)
  48. West Virginia: Homer Laughlin China Co. (iconic fiesta line of china)
  49. Wisconsin: Pierce Manufacturing (two firetrucks)
  50. Wyoming: Aviat Aircraft (aircraft)

‘BUY AMERICAN’

In April, Trump signed the “Buy American” executive order, which requires executive-branch projects to use goods, products, and materials produced in the U.S. This includes steel for infrastructure products, and more than half of U.S. steel is produced with scrap metal of unknown origin, according to the PMANA, which was established in 1947.

“It simply does not make sense that the recycling of precious metals would be treated differently. Even the gold in Fort Knox would not qualify as Made in America,” reads the statement issued by PMANA.

“We ask President Trump to take his efforts further in promoting Made in America products by allowing for precious metals recycled in the U.S. to be labeled as Made in America, which currently should be the case if you read the rules and regulations in place today. Mr. President, we need your help in getting the correct interpretation of rules already governing this issue.”

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