A recent Associated Press story about the ruling gave the distinct impression that Leatherman brand multi-tools are, for the most part, made outside the United States. This is false.
The unique California law at issue prohibits companies from selling in California any product represented as "Made in USA" if "any article, unit, or part" of the product was "substantially made, manufactured, or produced outside of the United States." As interpreted by one California judge, the law prohibits a "Made in USA" representation of a product even if the only foreign content in the product is a single screw.
These Leatherman tools were all built and assembled by U.S. workers at U.S. factories using primarily parts made entirely in the United States and some parts processed, in part, in Western Europe, Mexico, or Canada. Unfortunately, Leatherman is not able to procure all of its component parts in the United States because of quality, technological, or economic considerations. But Leatherman Tool Group has never shipped a job overseas, and the company remains committed to keeping and creating as many jobs here as possible.
