The Buy American Act (BAA) is a law in the United States that encourages the federal government to procure U.S.-made products. It requires that goods bought with government funds be produced in the U.S., with exceptions for certain cases where this is not feasible or conflicts with the public interest.

The act aims to support domestic manufacturing, American workers, and businesses, and ensure that taxpayer money benefits the U.S. economy. Businesses seeking government contracts must comply with these rules by ensuring their products meet specific U.S. origin and content criteria.

Build America, Buy America (BABA) compliance in the United States refers to a law and related set of federal guidelines and regulations aimed at prioritizing the use of American-made products and materials in federal government-funded infrastructure projects.

The goal is to support domestic manufacturing and job creation while ensuring that taxpayer-funded projects use high-quality, locally sourced materials. Compliance involves adhering to specific requirements related to the sourcing and production of materials used in construction and public works projects, helping to boost the national economy and maintain high infrastructure development standards.

Make It American™ certification provides independent, third-party verification of U.S. manufacturing processes aligned with Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements, helping you simplify compliance, reduce procurement risk, and confidently deliver resilient, future-ready infrastructure. Schneider Electric was among the first to receive this certification, and has 20´+ supply chain facilities meet the NEMA "Make it American" standard — more than any other energy company to date.

Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance in the United States refers to the requirement that government contractors must ensure the products they sell to federal agencies are made or substantially transformed in designated countries that have trade agreements with the U.S. This is intended to protect domestic industry and promote fair trade and friendly relationships with other countries. Compliance involves verifying products’ country of origin and ensuring they meet the guidelines established under the TAA, which can impact a company’s ability to compete for government contracts.

BAA requires that the U.S. government prioritize American-made iron, steel, and manufactured goods used in federal infrastructure projects. BABA effectively expands the scope of BAA by establishing the minimum domestic content preference for federally funded infrastructure projects but is a separate act. TAA also applies to U.S. federal government procurement of goods but is intended to cultivate an open and fair international trade system that expands American business and commerce opportunities.

While BAA, BABA, and TAA do share some requirements, the specifics vary. BAA mandates that iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials bolster domestic manufacturing, build more stable supply chains, and support good-paying American job.

BAA incentivizes federal agencies to purchase products made in the U.S. with at least 65% of the cost of all components coming from U.S. mines, producers, or manufacturers. (This increases to 75% in 2029.)

Many of our products are available in versions that comply with the Buy American Act (BAA) of 1933, Trade Agreements Act (TAA) of 1979, and the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) of 2022.