Tanfoglio has had a long and comfortable relationship with EAA, and facts be known, EAA was reformed from the bankrupt ashes of FIE, the Tanfoglio importer before them, so Tanfoglio has something rare--a true long term relationship with a single importer, something most foreign gun makers that don't have the size or clout of a SIG or Walther--or even CZ, which eventually developed their own CZ-USA subsidiary--would kill for. 

I actually believe that the Tanfoglio name is well known enough in this country and their production numbers high enough that if they had to, FT (Fratelli Tanfoglio, or Family Tanfoglio, Inc ), could probably set themselves up in this country with Tanfoglio-USA.  but it would be expensive and a major hassle, and why should they?  EAA is doing all the dirty work here and FT is making the money they want to make, apparently. 

FT has actually moved further away from the original CZ 75 pattern than any other clone maker, and they can be compared to the Beretta 92-Taurus 92 relationship.  There are very few parts that interchange between a Beretta and a Taurus today, and probably less between a CZ 75 and new Tanfoglio Witness, now that all Witnesses are being built on a "large" frame.  I put that in quotes because the Witness large frame is still smaller than the CZ 97b large frame .45.  (Of course so is the Sarsilmaz K2 .45, a Turkish CZ "clone" that manages to fit normal-size hands where the original CZ .45 does not. )

Anyway, all blather aside, I am pleased with this Elite Match--making it as an SA-only was brilliant in my opinion.