SBA Removes Nearly Two Dozen Products From Federal Purchasing Catalog Over Origin Questions

The Small Business Administration is removing nearly two dozen foreign products from the Advantage! platform, the federal catalog used by government agencies to purchase goods. The action follows reports that some China-based companies listed products as made in America after only partial assembly or finishing in the United States.

The SBA is carrying out the removals in coordination with the General Services Administration. Kelly Loeffler, the SBA administrator, said the step aligns with administration policy that federal spending should support American businesses and workers.

"As part of our commitment to rebuilding American industry and supply chains, the Trump SBA believes that every taxpayer dollar spent by the federal government should go to support American businesses, workers and products," Loeffler said.

Loeffler stated that President Trump directed the SBA and GSA to act after foreign companies were found falsely claiming Made in America status. "The Trump Administration is sending a clear message that we will not tolerate foreign impostors that hijack Made in America labels, or those that undercut honest, generational, American small businesses like Sherrill Manufacturing," Loeffler said.

Sherrill Manufacturing, based in New York, raised the initial concerns at the White House Small Business Summit.

U.S. manufacturer of stainless steel flatware produced entirely in America. Matthew Roberts, chief executive of Sherrill Manufacturing, said the factory that produces its flatware and Liberty Tabletop products has supplied American armed forces since World War I.

"We deeply appreciate President Trump, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, and GSA Administrator Ed Forst, along with their offices, for their continued efforts to keep American manufacturing alive and restore pride in products made in the USA," Roberts said. The SBA did not identify the specific vendors removed from the platform.