The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) today announced two industry-leading product specifications developed under its “Make it American” Program to help electrical manufacturers confidently offer Build America, Buy America (BABA)-compliant products to market. The first-of-their-kind product specifications—for wire and cable and low-voltage power distribution equipment—establish product category-level specificity and provide the electroindustry with the evaluation criteria it needs to confidently make informed decisions that strengthen critical product supply chains in alignment with BABA requirements.

NEMA’s product specifications build upon the Make it American Process Standard. Announced in October 2024, the standard provides a best-in-class framework for companies to assess and document conformance with Buy America Preference requirements for infrastructure projects receiving federal funding, or seek waivers as necessary. The product specifications and process standard are part of NEMA’s comprehensive Make It American Program to assist companies navigating the complex domestic content landscape.

“NEMA’s members have invested tens of billions of dollars in domestic manufacturing in communities around the country—creating thousands of good-paying jobs and strengthening the US manufacturing base to deliver a resilient energy future,” said Debra Phillips, President and CEO, NEMA. “NEMA’s Make it American program offers precedent-setting resources, standards and certifications to help companies evaluate complex supply chains and deliver critical electrical products to meet rising energy demand.”

NEMA member companies like Southwire helped champion the creation of these two product specifications. “As Southwire celebrates 75 years of delivering power responsibly since 1950, we are proud to partner with NEMA to strengthen domestic manufacturing through the Make It American program. The newly published specifications exemplify our shared commitment to supporting U.S. supply chains by providing clear guidance and standards for producing Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) compliant goods. This milestone reinforces our dedication to innovation and to creating high-quality, domestically produced wire and cable products,” said Yuhsin Hawig, Ph.D., VP of Applications Engineering, Southwire Company.

For more information about NEMA’s “Make It American” Program, visit here.