VietNow National Magazine

Not Made in China Anymore!
New Minnesota law requires flags sold in state to be made in U.S.A.

By Christian Nelson, VietNow National Editor

By the end of 2007, a new law will say that every U.S. flag sold in the state of Minnesota has to be made in the U.S.A.

Some of us have been bothered for years by seeing U.S. flags with little labels that say, “Made in China,” “Made in Vietnam,” or wherever – and have wondered why this emblem of our country is made just about everywhere except right here at home.

But, surprisingly enough, some people are less than happy about the new law. Importers who bring in those foreign-made flags don’t like it, and there’s talk of this new law violating international trade agreements.

But Robert Litan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution thinks chances of a trade dispute are slim, “It’s symptomatic of an anti-foreign bias moving through the country right now. It would not surprise me if other states copy it. It’s hard to oppose politically.”

The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Rep. Tom Rukavina said, “Nothing is more embarrassing to me than a plastic flag made in China.” Sounds right to me.

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