In response to the latest recall of Chinese-made toys, Senator Dodd has issued the following statement:
I renew my call on the President to immediately suspend imports of all food and toys from China. This latest report is just the latest in a weeks-long string - how many more American children are going to be put at risk while the President sits by idly? This lax stance on China is one example of how President Bush's policies have made our nation far less secure and our children and families far less safe than they were six years ago. His inaction is simply unacceptable. It is time to put this nation back on track.
Dodd has previously called for the immediate suspension of Chinese imports of toys, food, pet foods, and other products that have proved threatening to American consumers.
Comments
Forgive the quibble, but it's not China that's doing the importing. The importing is being done by American and international corporations on who-knows-where registered planes and freighters. It's important to be precise about who's actually doing what, if we're going to correct a mistake.
Since the toys are being sold under the trade mark of the corporations, it is reasonable to assume that, as Spiegel and J.C. Penny used to do with their "labels," the design and manufacturing specifications are being set by the retail seller, rather than the maker.
It's long been apparent that any cost savings achieved by the manufacture of products overseas are hardly ever realized by the ultimate buyer. While retailers used to have a hundred percent markup over the production and transportation cost, it's possible that the retail share has decreased to make up the much greater transportation costs. But, while the increased volume of transport does make the world economy appear to grow, its also true that the value (quality) of what's being traded has gone down and much that we buy goes almost directly to the dump. So, those of us who buy this stuff really aren't any better off.
Also, it's not the recalls that are the problem. The problem is shoddy manufacturing specifications and no quality assurance. And I'm not sure these are a government responsibility. If imports are licensed, then the government can set product standards and the license can be revoked if the standards aren't met. I don't know if that's how the laws actually work.
But, since we're getting ready to permit Mexican transport vehicles to bring goods off-loaded in Mexican ports directly into the country without going through customs inspection, insuring that quality standards are being met is going to be virtually impossible, regardless.