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Williams-Sonoma has been ordered to cough up more than $3 million in civil penalties after falsely claiming its products were made in the United States 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 Chairwoman Lina M. Khan. “Williams-Sonoma’s deception misled consumers and harmed honest American businesses.”
The Justice Department, along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced in a press release Friday that the high-end kitchen retailer agreed to a $3,175,387 settlement.
“Today’s record-setting civil penalty makes clear that companies that commit Made-in-USA fraud will not get a free pass,” Khan said.
Night view of the facade of the Williams Sonoma store in San Ramon, California, November 21, 2019. Many stores expect increased traffic during the busy Black Friday shopping period. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images/Getty Images)
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The Justice Department 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 a 2020 FTC order requiring that the retailer tells the truth about whether the products it sells are made in the United States.
In addition to paying the fine, the company was required to admit the truth of their alleged lies about their product’s manufacturing.
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The order also required William-Sonoma Inc. should keep records of the product’s manufacture for future reporting to government authorities.
Close-up of the sign for the upscale cookware store Williams Sonoma in San Ramon, California, March 12, 2019. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The latest violation came after the FTC sued William-Sonoma in 2020.
The FTC said that William-Sonoma Inc. advertised several product lines as being all or nearly all made in the United States under their Goldtouch, Rejuvenation, Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids brands.
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Williams-Sonoma Inc. did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
