Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but this FYI is the culmination of some long and painstaking research. Here is the history of what this FYI concerns. I wanted to know how good the German automotive tools were, because of the history of German tools being top quality, WHEN they are actually made in Germany. But evidently, Germany is also suffering the same Made in China or Taiwan outsourcing that we Americans are. [Don't let your congressman lie to you, big business is telling Congress what they are going to do, regardless of what the Government would like to see -- Obama is a master tongue-in-cheeker -- he doesn't give a flying rats ass, he's in it for himself, like they all are, irrespective of party affiliation]. Just an aside, luckily, our Industrial tools and their markets are still intact. Fortunately, the government and/or big business was smart enough to know that if we sold out the upper end industrial equipment, and ended up in a war with China, we would not be able to buy the Chinese screws that hold our weapons together that we got from China. That would be the epitome of irony.
There have been indirect issues such as the price of steel and who is buying it and from where, but the main reason for all of this ties directly in with greed. The mfr are paying far less to have tools made in China but they are not selling them for less. For example, take Snap-on's Blue point line, that is made in China or Taiwan, they are asking over $100 for an Asian made die grinder. I can tell you 100% for sure that is the same tool that Sioux Air Tools is also having made in Asia, with a different colored handle and part number, as well as, the same thing many other companies are selling. Now why should I pay Snap-on $100, when I can get this same tool for $9.99 (from some companies everyday non-sale price).

So, I purchased some Hazet sockets, believing they were made in Germany, but when they arrived, an engineer friend of mine who works for a well known tool mfr., said that they looked like sockets that were being made in Taiwan. He also pointed out that Germans do not refer to Germany as Germany, but rather Deutschland, and he said their made in Deutschland tools for Deutschland, reflect that. He said that the Germans, as well refer to them also have exporting laws about how their tools are labeled, and that is when the word Germany goes on the tool.

Our laws forbid putting US, or Made in US, or similar wording, unless it is "all or virtually all" made in the US. [ASIDE: The law used to state that if a tool was made in the US it was up to the discretion of the tool mfr if they wanted to label the tool USA, and if it was labeled USA, it had to be 100% made in the USA, not the current standard of "all or virtually all." The imported tools had to be labeled with their country of origin. What has changed is that imported tools no longer have to be directly labeled on the tool, the package is sufficient. And as for the US made ones, well the US lawyers for the Big Business tool makers really screwed us all with their successful lobbying, because that "virtually" clause created quite a big loophole for them to really start importing crappy materials, as well as, taking advantage of us in other ways [read between the lines]. Research Stanley-Proto tools, that company was caught twice in a ten year span, importing Asian tools and labeling them Made in the USA!!! As for our exporting laws, there is a difference form our importing laws: Our exported items must state the country of origin of manufacture. So, other countries know for sure if they are getting a USA made item for sure. But, it only has to be "virtually all."

Now here is the insidious part, the Germans [Deutsch] have no such exporting laws. Their laws state that if a Deutsch company has a product made outside of Deutschland, then they may label the product, in whatever language and spelling the country receiving the product refers to Germany as. We call Deutschland Germany, and our imported item from their say Germany. I sent about 20 E-mails to Hazet asking if their sockets were made in 100% made in Germany, and not one email was answered. Finally, I had to ask the question in Deutschland language and spelling, and still no reply. After much legal research, I found out that my sockets were made in Taiwan, just as my engineer friend suspected. Btw, Hazet brand Tools are sold thru A&E Hand Tools in the US. A&E makes some good tools, like their re-threaders, but as for Hazet, I'm giving them a thumbs down for being so sneaky and devious about the entire matter. All they had to do was be honest up front and all this aggravation could have been avoided. Then I could have chosen to buy or not buy Hazet sockets. Of course, if I still wanted them, I would have located the Taiwan mfr of them, and purchased the same thing under another brand for far less. But they knew that and that is the reason for their silence. Like I said, all this outsourcing is nothing but greed inspired.

Caveat Emptor: I purchased a set of the 6 point, 3/8 drive, metric shallow length sockets. I cannot say where any of their other tools are made.