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Williams-Sonoma was ordered to pay more than $3 million in civil penalties after falsely claiming its products were made in the U.S. when they were actually made in China.
“Williams-Sonoma claimed that its products were manufactured in the United States even though they were manufactured in China,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “Williams-Sonoma’s deception misled consumers and harmed honest American businesses.”
The Department of Justice, along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced in a press release Friday that the high-end kitchen store has agreed to a $3,175,387 settlement.
“Today’s record civil penalty makes it clear that companies that commit Made-in-USA fraud will not get a free pass,” Khan said.
Night view of the Williams Sonoma storefront in San Ramon, California, November 21, 2019. Many stores expect an increase in traffic during the busy Black Friday shopping period. (Photo from the Smith/Gado/Getty Images Collection) (Photo by Coleção Smith/Gado/Getty Images/Getty Images)
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The Department of Justice and the FTC alleged that William-Sonoma Inc., the parent company that owns Williams-Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, PBTeen, West Elm and Rejuvenation, violated the terms of an order of 2020 FTC requiring retailer to tell the truth about whether the products it sells are made in the USA.
In addition to paying the fine, the company was forced to admit the truth about the alleged lies about the manufacturing of the product.
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The order also required William-Sonoma Inc. to maintain records of the product's manufacture for future reporting to government agencies.
Close-up of the Williams Sonoma luxury kitchen equipment store sign in San Ramon, California, March 12, 2019. (Photo by Coleção Smith/Gado/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The latest infraction occurred after the FTC sued William-Sonoma in 2020.
The FTC said William-Sonoma Inc. advertised several product lines as being all or nearly all made in the U.S. under its Goldtouch, Rejuvenation, Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids brands.
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did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
