Remember in 2008 when some toys made in China for high-profile US companies contained unsafe levels of lead? Well, starting August 14, based on a 3-2 vote by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the acceptable amount of lead in children's products will be reduced from 300 parts per million to 100 parts per million. The 2008 lead debacle was but one of many Chinese product transgressions that included melamine and cyanuric acid in pet food and diethylene glycol in toothpaste.
If the US, China's largest trading partner, wants to put pressure on China on a wide variety of issues, ranging from environmental damage to intellectual property and copyright infringement, children's toys would be an excellent place to start. About 64% of all toys exported in 2010 were made in China, according to Global Trade Information Services. Although businesses complain about the costs of compliance, no politician -- or business executive for that matter -- will stand up and proclaim kids need more lead in their diet...except perhaps, Irwin Mainway, President of Mainway Toys, famous for his line of children's products including Bag o' Glass, Teddy Chainsaw Bear, and Johnny Switchblade: Adventure Punk [SNL skit, 1976].
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