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Williams-Sonoma has been ordered to pay more than $3 million in civil penalties after falsely claiming its products were made in the USA when they were actually made in China.
“Williams-Sonoma claimed its products were made in the United States even though they were made in China,” said FTC Chairwoman Lina M. Khan. “Williams-Sonoma’s deception misled consumers and harmed honest American businesses.”
The Department of Justice, in cooperation with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced in a press release on Friday that the upscale kitchen store agreed to a $3,175,387 settlement.
“Today’s record-breaking civil penalty makes clear that companies committing made-in-the-USA fraud will not get a free pass,” Khan said.
A night view of a Williams Sonoma storefront in San Ramon, California, November 21, 2019. Many stores are anticipating an increase in traffic during the busy Black Friday shopping period. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) (Photo by Smith Group/Gado/Getty Images/Getty Images)
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The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission 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 the FTC's 2020 order. Requiring the retailer to tell the truth about what If the products he sells are made in the USA.
Along with paying the fine, the company was required to come clean about its alleged lies about the manufacturing of its products.
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It also requires William-Sonoma Inc. Maintain product manufacturing records for future reporting to government agencies.
A sign for the Williams Sonoma upscale cooking equipment store in San Ramon, California, March 12, 2019. (Photo by Smith Group/Gado/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The latest violation came after the Federal Trade Commission sued William Sonoma in 2020.
The Federal Trade Commission said that William-Sonoma Inc. It advertises several product lines as all or mostly made in the United States under its Goldtouch, Rejuvenation, Pottery Barn Teen, and Pottery Barn Kids brands.
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Williams-Sonoma Inc. did not respond. Fox News Digital immediately requested comment.
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