Final answer:
The Buy America Act mandates that U.S. government agencies must prefer U.S. products in their contracts, reflecting protectionist policy and intended to promote American-made products.
Step-by-step explanation:
The legislation that requires U.S. government agencies to give preference to U.S. products when putting contracts for equipment out to bid, unless foreign products have a significant price advantage, is the Buy America Act. This act reflects a protectionist policy intended to support domestic industries and employment by promoting the purchase of American-made goods.
During economic recessions, such as the one that began in 2007, there is often an increased sentiment for protectionism. The 2009 recovery stimulus bill included a provision that could be seen as an embodiment of the Buy America principle, even though it also stated that it should be consistent with international obligations, which may mitigate the scope of its application.