Some states will fly only American-made flags this 4th

Minneapolis Star Tribune

In Minnesota, at least, that American flag you’re buying for this July 4th will be made in the U.S.A.

A new state law requires that all Old Glories sold in Minnesota must be American made.

Retailers say they haven’t noticed any particular difference in sales, although the U.S.-made flags are more expensive.

“We’ve only sold American-made flags for years, and we’ve never had problems with sales,” said Matt Knowlan, owner of American Flagpole and Flag in Lake Elmo, Minn. “The flag is the symbol of the United States, and it’s how Americans show pride.”

Last year, Arizona required its schools and public colleges to put an American-made flag in every classroom from junior high on up. Tennessee requires all U.S. flags bought via state contract to be made domestically, and similar legislation has been considered in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In 2006, $5.3 million worth of U.S. flags were imported in the United States, nearly all of them from China.

But not everybody is a fan of the new rules.

Imad Ardah, a co-owner of Alamo Flags in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., said he understands the motivation for the law but thinks it means fewer people will be flying American flags.

“Too many people cannot afford the flags made in the U.S.A.,” Ardah said. “One of my American flags that costs $39 used to cost just $19. That’s double the price!”

Ardah, a U.S. citizen who emigrated from Jordan in 1991, said the foreign-made flags and the American-made ones are of nearly the same quality.