UNBALANCED CLAIMS
(Multinational Monitor - May 1996)
New Balance Athletic Shoes, Inc. and Hyde Athletic Industries, Inc. agreed in September to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they misrepresented that all of their, athletic footwear is made in the United States then a substantial amount is made wholly abroad.
In addition, New Balance has agreed to settle charges that it falsely represented that it annually exports to Japan hundreds of thousands of pairs of athletic shoes that are U.S. made.
The proposed settlements do not address "Made in USA" claims for shoes made partially from domestic parts and labor and partially from foreign parts and labor.
The proposed consent agreements settling the charges against New Balance and Hyde would prohibit the companies from misrepresenting that footwear made wholly abroad is made in the United States.
(by Russell Mokhiber)
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