Here is update news article on pollution & safety hazards of imports from China being ignored by US trade commission.
The Good news is that – CPSC is taking proactive action against dangerous toys & products coming into Port Houston with lead or choking hazards. Seems like overwhelming taks given volume and numbers (+25000 sized in this effort alone) ….. but major question I have is why are we absorbing this cost and task at all??
The Bad news is that – Clearly this is all because US is not taking action aginst China who is real source of these dangerous products. The article points out that 45% all products and 90% all toys are from China and that 5 years ago nearly 45 million toys (from China) had be recalled – but lot blow-back went to importers like Toys R US and not the China producers.
While Congress did increase budget of CPSC for its efforts in 2008 ……. it lacked courage to block such future exports from China until they demonstrate they aren’t going poision US consumers due lead in everything from toys to containers and antifreeze in toothpaste (used wrong glycol making it).
When US slips up and lets in Canadian cow into our US feedlots that then is shown to have “Mad Cow” – Japan & everyone else blocks US beef exports for couple years. Since China is now a WTO member (at least on paper if not in responsible actions) – why have we not sanctioned/blocked or put high tariff against thier imports to cover cost of the search & recall??
Too little, much too late and working on symptoms not cause of this crisis/issue.
Charlie Randall