These products are known for their all-American image, but many have been produced overseas for decades. Some are still partly manufactured in the U.S., but production has been outsourced due to rising labor costs. Here are 18 iconic American products no longer wholly made in the USA.
Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars
Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars mostly retained their original design from 1922 and were the dominant basketball shoes until the 1970s. After decades of struggling due to competition, poor business decisions, and multiple bankruptcy filings, Nike acquired Converse in 2003. Production was moved from the U.S. to China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Ford Trucks
The Drive notes that despite claims that “every single Ford F-Series is made in America,” the 2022 Ford F-150 only “receives 50 percent of its components from the U.S. and Canada.” Although it is made in America, it heavily relies on components produced overseas.
Gerber Baby Food
Gerber Products Company, a subsidiary of Nestlé, has been a purveyor of baby food for almost a century. Once a Michigan-based American company, much of its food is now produced overseas since being sold to Nestlé in 2005. The Motley Fool notes that it retains some American factories that make products, including baby formula.
American Flags
Many American flags are made in China, even some of those listed on Amazon as FMAA-certified, U.S.-made, or veteran-owned. Recently, the flag industry pushed a bill that required federal properties to fly flags wholly made in America, the “Make American Flags in America Act.”
Gibson Guitars
Formerly known as the Gibson Guitar Corporation, Gibson Brands was founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is famous for its wide selection of guitars. Although most of its guitars are still made in the USA, its budget Epiphone brand is produced in China and South Korea.
Hershey’s Chocolate
Hershey’s has been a classic American confectionery brand since the late 19th century. However, it began outsourcing some production to Mexico in 2007. The company is still headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and has a strong domestic presence.
Craftsman Tools
Originally a Sears house brand, Craftsman Tools was acquired by Stanley Black & Decker in 2017. They subsequently moved much of the manufacturing out of the U.S. USA Love List notes that some Craftsman products are still made in manufacturing facilities in 14 states, but several are produced in China and Taiwan.
Rawlings Baseballs
Rawlings produces the official baseball of Major League Baseball. Since 1987, their products have been made in Costa Rica due to the affordability of labor and the pride the local workforce takes in the production.
Pyrex Glassware
Introduced by Corning in 1915, Pyrex has become an essential brand in American kitchens. While the brand retains its reputation for durability and quality, some of its production and materials are sourced from outside the U.S.
Radio Flyer Wagons
Radio Flyer wagons have been a loved toy by American children for almost 100 years and are still available in their classic design. Domesticated Companion writes that the company originally made the wagons in Chicago before changing materials from metal to lighter, cheaper practices, and outsourced production to China. One-third of their products are still made in the Midwest, while the rest are made in China.
Monopoly
The original Monopoly was based on “The Landlord’s Game,” created by anti-monopolist Lizzie Magie in 1903. The copyright was then bought by the Parker Brothers, who began selling it in 1936. Today, the iconic game is made in several different countries, depending on the version.
Samsonite Luggage
Established in Denver, Colorado, Samsonite is world-renowned for its durable luggage. The company moved its production to factories in China, India, and Hungary, but it remains a leading brand in the luggage industry worldwide.
Barbie
Mattel is best known for Barbie, arguably the most famous doll in the world. Britannica notes that despite the company positioning “Barbie as the ultimate American girl, the doll has never been manufactured in the United States.” Barbie, Hot Wheels, and other Mattel toys are made in China, Indonesia, Thailand, and other countries.
Motorola Phones
Motorola introduced the world’s first commercially available mobile phone, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, in 1983. In 2014, the company sold its mobility division to Lenovo, a Chinese company, and continues to produce smartphones under Lenovo’s banner.
Levi’s Jeans
Todd Shelton notes that Levi’s, along with Lee and Wrangler, no longer makes its jeans in America and discontinued its Made in USA jeans a few years ago. Once a symbol of American craftsmanship, Levi’s has moved its manufacturing overseas to countries like China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.
Budweiser Beer
Anheuser-Busch, the brewer of Budweiser, was an American icon until its acquisition by Belgium’s InBev in 2008. It maintains breweries in the U.S. but is now also brewed worldwide.
Etch A Sketch
This beloved toy sparked creativity in generations of American children. It was manufactured in Bryan, Ohio, for decades but has since been sold to the Toronto-based Spin Master Corp. and is now produced in China.
IBM Personal Computers
IBM pioneered the personal computing revolution in America and was the dominant computer producer globally in the 1960s and 1970s. In 2005, the company sold its P.C. division to Lenovo, moving production to China, and marking a significant shift in the tech industry.
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