Maureen Thorson

So let's start with the rules for American products. When something says it's made in USA, that doesn't just mean that it's manufactured in the United States. It also means that virtually all of the parts and ingredients and labor came from the USA.

There are some exceptions for things like clothing and some types of meat. But basically, if an American product isn't 100% American, it cannot say made in the USA.

There are some exceptions for things like clothing and some types of meat. But basically, if an American product isn't 100% American, it cannot say made in the USA.

There are some exceptions for things like clothing and some types of meat. But basically, if an American product isn't 100% American, it cannot say made in the USA.

The rules are very different for products that are not American. Basically, anything that's imported has to be labeled with the main country it came from. It's so-called country of origin. That's been the law since 1890, when Congress wanted consumers to know where their imported products were coming from. So those labels that say product of China or product of France, they are not optional.

The rules are very different for products that are not American. Basically, anything that's imported has to be labeled with the main country it came from. It's so-called country of origin. That's been the law since 1890, when Congress wanted consumers to know where their imported products were coming from. So those labels that say product of China or product of France, they are not optional.

The rules are very different for products that are not American. Basically, anything that's imported has to be labeled with the main country it came from. It's so-called country of origin. That's been the law since 1890, when Congress wanted consumers to know where their imported products were coming from. So those labels that say product of China or product of France, they are not optional.

Maureen has helped companies import a lot of different products. She's not allowed to say exactly what she's worked on, but it's things like industrial engines and smartphones and also flowerpots. She helps companies figure out that product's country of origin, get it labeled right, and declare it to customs.

Maureen has helped companies import a lot of different products. She's not allowed to say exactly what she's worked on, but it's things like industrial engines and smartphones and also flowerpots. She helps companies figure out that product's country of origin, get it labeled right, and declare it to customs.

Maureen has helped companies import a lot of different products. She's not allowed to say exactly what she's worked on, but it's things like industrial engines and smartphones and also flowerpots. She helps companies figure out that product's country of origin, get it labeled right, and declare it to customs.

Now, we should say for many years, companies didn't think too, too hard about country of origin. Most of the time, what you labeled something or what you declared to customs didn't matter that much because for most countries, tariffs didn't really differ that much.

Now, we should say for many years, companies didn't think too, too hard about country of origin. Most of the time, what you labeled something or what you declared to customs didn't matter that much because for most countries, tariffs didn't really differ that much.

Now, we should say for many years, companies didn't think too, too hard about country of origin. Most of the time, what you labeled something or what you declared to customs didn't matter that much because for most countries, tariffs didn't really differ that much.

Other companies were trying to switch up their manufacturing so their products wouldn't count as made in China anymore. They're asking Maureen, how much can I bend the definition of made in China?

Other companies were trying to switch up their manufacturing so their products wouldn't count as made in China anymore. They're asking Maureen, how much can I bend the definition of made in China?

Other companies were trying to switch up their manufacturing so their products wouldn't count as made in China anymore. They're asking Maureen, how much can I bend the definition of made in China?

Word for word.

Word for word.

Word for word.

A new name, use, or character. That is the entire rule. And the way it works is, if you send something to, say, Vietnam, and there you change it enough that you're basically turning it into a new thing, you're giving it a new name, use, or character, then that thing now counts as a product of Vietnam. A new name, use, or character.