Black & Decker Agrees to Settle ‘Made in USA’ Dispute With FTC

Black & Decker Corp. has agreed to settle government charges that the company claimed some of its residential lock products were “All American Made” when they actually contained many foreign parts and were assembled abroad.

The Federal Trade Commission charged in a statement Thursday that Irvine-based Kwikset Corp., a Black & Decker subsidiary, used false or misleading advertising and packaging for its lock products in violation of the government’s “Made in USA” standard.

Kwikset is the world’s leading manufacturer of residential lock systems, Black & Decker spokeswoman Barbara Lucas said. Their products include lock sets, deadbolts, knobs and handles.

Under the settlement, the companies are prohibited from misrepresenting the extent to which the Kwikset lock products are made in the U.S. The companies don’t admit violating any law by agreeing.

Black & Decker, based in Towson, Md., had no comment on the settlement, Lucas said.