Stars, Stripes and China’s Supply Chains

Flag poles, porches and parade floats will be awash in stars and stripes during the coming weeks as patriotic Americans fly Old Glory from sea to shining sea to celebrate the nation’s upcoming birthday. But one thing revelers might not know: A growing number of those star-spangled banners don’t come from the USA at all. They were made in China.

And it’s a sore spot for hundreds of flag companies throughout the country, where the red, white and blue represent not only the symbol of freedom but a familial legacy passed down from generation to generation. Over the last 10 years, it has also come to represent struggle as they fight to beat back the influx of American flags that were actually assembled a half a world away – yet fraudulently claim to have been made stateside.

“We feel like the one category of consumer product here in America that most Americans really care whether it’s made in America or not is the symbol of our nation, the American flag,” says Larry Severini, the president of South Carolina-based Embroidery Solutions.

The Federal Trade Commission currently has strict standards in place on country-of-origin labeling requirements, but these companies say enforcement and compliance are inconsistent. The result is federal buildings and consumers unknowingly flying foreign-made flags and an increased need for businesses to educate people on the difference.

The Biden administration signed the All-American Flag Act in 2024 to crack down on foreign-made flags being purchased by the federal government. On paper, the bill was progress. In reality, key shortcomings were lurking beneath its good intentions. Now these companies are pointing to a new bill, the Make American Flags in America Act of 2025, to ensure their companies survive the tide.