Since energy powers every aspect of today's industries, power cords are vital components of business and production. There exists a vast array of power cables around the globe, with variations even within individual standards, ranging from the UK's three-pronged, grounded kettle leads to Australia's distinctive angled plugs.
These power cords connect a household or workplace gadget to the main electrical supply. The male connection, often called the plug, inserts an extension cable or electrical outlet. The female connection, often known as the jack, on the other hand, fits into the device or another plug. In certain devices, the jack may be replaced by a fixed line.
Whether you’re buying your power cord locally or abroad, there are vital industry and safety standards you know about, including the TAA requirements.
This guide provides all the details concerning TAA compliance for power cords.
What do TAA Requirements Mean?
First things first, TAA simply means Trade Agreement Act. These are legal trading standards laid down by the authorities of specific countries to regulate trade between the United States and other countries.
In other words, TAA is a federal law that establishes government contracts and procurement regulations. This act aims to guarantee that items bought by the US government are produced in nations that have complied with the agreement on fair trade and to encourage free and open trade internationally.
Hence, one defining feature of this trade act is its restriction on U.S. government procurements, which allows it to source only products made from these specific countries or US manufacturers.
The Trade Agreements Act also applies to GSA-scheduled contracts. Therefore, if you sell or want to sell items to the government, you must ensure that your products comply with the TAA.
This brings us to the term TAA-compliant.
What is a TAA-Compliant Product?
A product or item is said to be TAA-compliant only when it meets the following criteria:
- U.S.-made or a TAA-designated country: At least 50% of the product’s overall manufacturing cost comes from the US or designated countries.
- Substantial transformation: The product was significantly transformed to meet the standards of the US or designated countries.
Let’s take a second to break down what substantially transformed means.
This word refers to the notion that a product needs to go through several important modifications (manufacturing, processing, assembly, etc.) for the new product to have a unique name, character, or function. Therefore, a product that has undergone "substantial transformations" is said to have originated in the nation where those modifications were made.
Other TAA Requirements
- Keep precise records: To comply with TAA, records of the items and services that are sold to the government, together with information about their nation of origin, must always remain up-to-date. A documented compliance program also outlines its rules and processes for TAA compliance. These documents must be easily accessible for government scrutiny and audits.
- Observe domestic sourcing guidelines: Government procurement is subject to Buy American Act (BAA) regulations in addition to TAA. These demand that an established fraction of a product's parts come from domestic suppliers. When selling goods to the government, businesses need to ensure they comply with both TAA and BAA.
What are the Designated Countries?
The following nations are included in the list of designated countries:
- Countries covered by free trade agreements (such as Canada, Mexico, or Singapore)
- Government Procurement Agreement Countries of the World Trade Organization (such as Australia, Japan, Germany, and South Korea)
- Caribbean Basin States (including Aruba, the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and Curacao).
- Under-developed Nations (e.g., Afghanistan, Samoa, Cambodia, and Yemen)
The United States and specified nations comply with the Trade Agreement. The full list of nations that comply with TAA is available in FAR, Part 25. As a result, nations like China, Russia, and North Korea that are not on this list are considered non-TAA-compliant.
How to Keep Your Power Cords TAA-Compliant?
As adhering to the Trade Agreements Act's standards is essential to maintaining any GSA Schedule contracts between you and the government, you must constantly be sure that your electric cords meet these requirements for the duration of the contract. You may wish to use the following quick checklist to make sure your electrical supplies, like power cords, are TAA-eligible:
Carefully choose your suppliers of materials, accessories, and components for your manufactured items. You want at least half of the value of your goods to come from the United States or other approved nations.
If the fulfillment of your GSA contract depends on the shipment of items made by a third party, confirm that the products are produced in nations that abide by TAA regulations.
Always remember to disclose their origin when obtaining supplies or source parts from your partners. Ensure that all components have appropriate supply documents and agreements.
Demand a thorough inventory of all the parts and supplies you order for your product. Also, confirm that the nation of origin conforms with the TAA standards.
It is advisable to periodically verify the TAA status of ordered components (either quarterly or with each pricelist update) to ensure that you don't overlook any modifications to the part's origin.
Check Acquisition.org for updates on any modifications to the TAA and FAR. The GSA-approved nation list and criteria may also change.
At this point, you might ask what exactly makes a power cord TAA-compliant.
What Makes a Power Cord TAA-Compliant?
Generally speaking, TAA-compliant power cords are made from American wire or wires sourced from the above-mentioned designated countries. Therefore, they adhere to US Trade Agreement Act standards.
On the other hand, these power cords also fit the following descriptions:
- Built to function according to TAA specs for military and government use.
- Sold in diverse configurations, including the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standards.
- Suitable for application in settings that mandate compliance.
How to Ensure You Only Buy TAA-Compliant Power Cords
The United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) examines products for significant alteration individually and has made decisions on several electrical and networking products. According to one CBP ruling, Ethernet switches built in Malaysia and subsequently downloaded with software from the US were not deemed to have undergone "substantial transformation." If the product you're working with hasn't been reviewed yet, you might need to submit an Advisory Ruling request, which can be a difficult procedure.
If your federal contract calls for TAA or BAA compliance, not complying with these requirements is a federal crime that carries heavy fines of up to $500,000 per infraction as well as the possibility of criminal prosecution, which can result in jail time or the inability to apply for future government contracts.
You might still be held accountable and prosecuted for contract fraud, even if you were unaware that the items were not legally compliant.
The Best Way to Ensure TAA Compliance
Buying items certified by the supplier to be "Made in the USA" or to comply with TAA regulations is the most effective way to ensure your products meet these requirements. This indicates that the producer or supplier has accurately determined the country of origin of a product and has proven major modifications. It also implies that you need to get compliance statements from them. You should avoid any provider that declares compliance but lacks the supporting paperwork.
Where can I buy TAA-Compliant Power Cords?
One of the top producers and suppliers of "Made in the USA" or TAA-compliant power cords is Americord. You will find tried-and-true electrical cords, cables, and power products of various kinds and configurations, including industrial-grade products (some examples include Nema 5-20P Right Angle to Blunt Cut, Nema 6-6-15P to IEC 320 C-13, and NEMA 5-20P to ROJ), as well as regular power cords like Nema 5-15P, Nema 5-20P, Nema 6-20P, NEMA 5-15R, Nema 6-20P, ROJ to 5-15R, and Piggyback Plug.
But there's more!
In addition to TAA power cords, Americord provides bulk wire and bulk flexible cable with a minimum purchase length of 250 feet. These are available in different guages like 18/2, 18/3, 16/3, 14/3, 12/3, 10/3, 6/3, and 8/3, and a variety of jackets, like SJTW, SJTOW, SJO, SJ, SJOOW, SJOW, SJT, ST, SVT, STO, STOW, and SOOW. You can even find flat extension cords, twist-lock power cords, GFCI power cords, rocker switch wiring, and some of the best surge protectors on the market.
Now, let’s look at some of these power cords.
International Power Cords
Finding the approved international power cords shouldn’t be a puzzle. What you need is the right supplier. Once you contact the right manufacturer, you’ll get all the information you need regarding configurations and approvals. In any case, some of the most in-demand international power cords you can find at Americord are as follows, with their respective approvals:
- Israel power cords - HAR, SII, and VDE
- British/UK power cords - DEMKO, CEBEC, KEMA, NEMKO, VDE, OVE, SEV, SETI
- India power cords - SABS
- Australia power cords - SAA
- European power cords - KEMA, DEMKO, CEBEC, SEV, SETI, VDE, OVE, and NEMKO
- Italian power cords - HAR, VDE, IMQ
- Danish power cords - HAR, VDE, DEMKO
- Japanese power cords - PSE, UL, “T Mark,” Dentori
- Swiss power cords - HAR, SEV, VDE
You can contact Americord to have any of these manufactured to your specifications.
Twist-lock Power Cords
The locking-type power cord has a plug to keep it in place and guarantee a continuous connection. These usually use latching or twisting-locking mechanisms to keep the plug firmly in place until it is deliberately removed. Thus, these types are difficult to disconnect accidentally.
With a completely molded, low-profile ergonomic design and compliance with RoHS, these locking power cables meet NEMA standards. The purpose of a twist-lock plug is to stop unintentional disconnections by twisting it into a locking receptacle. The places you'll often find these connections include both commercial and industrial settings, with a focus on connection security. Their non-slip handle and highly sculpted ridges make "plug-in" simple and lightning-fast.
NEMA Power Cords
Although most of the designs produced by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) are located in North America, they could work with a wide range of products. NEMA designs often come in locking types for industry and straight blades for everyday use.
The fundamental pattern for NEMA connections is 5–25 and 5–20. The first figure indicates the overall number of wires and poles. For example, 5–15R codes indicate there are three wires total, including the ground wire and two poles. The second digit, 15, represents the amp rating.
Meanwhile, high voltage ratings of up to 120 V are available for devices with NEMA 1 layouts, which have a double wire without earthing. These plugs are capable of handling large current flows and feature two blades.
IEC Power Cords
These power cables are suitable for low-voltage input devices, making them perfect as PC power cords, and a power source for devices like music players, video devices, and televisions. Their ends are fashioned like the number 8. While other C7 variants have straight edges on one side of the figure-8 design and are not polarized, these cords are usually polarized.
Male appliance inlets are typically 1 higher than the matching female cable connector sheet in IEC cables, which have an odd number denoting the male, and plugs take an even number. While the C8 connection is located on the appliance or power source, the C7 connector is often attached to the main cable. Some popular examples are C13 power cord, C15/C16 extension cable, and C17/C18.
Conclusion
Selecting a suitable power cord for the task is crucial, but it shouldn't be too difficult to do. Suppose you get a TAA-compliant power cable that is the correct size and form and was manufactured by a reputable company. In that case, you don't need to worry about quality or penalties if you have any government contracts. Simply choose one that is the appropriate length for your needs, and you should be set to power your devices.
However, remember to purchase only a brand that offers the best technological solutions while ensuring every product complies with TAA regulations.
At Americord, we take immense pride in manufacturing TAA-compliant electricals and offering state-of-the-art quality that complies with all industry standards for our local, national, and international clients.