Change trade pacts that hurt kids

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071019/OPINION03/710190318

Tainted Chinese imports show how bad policies put consumers at risk

Issues of importance to labor unions and union members often are important to the public. Nowhere is that reality more striking than in the poor trade polices with China, which have both cost American workers their jobs and put American children at risk.

During the past year, a long list of consumer items imported from China such as pet food, toothpaste, children's toys, cribs and seafood have all been deemed tainted by U.S. authorities.

Two separate Chinese firms sent contaminated wheat protein that was used to make pet food. It has been the cause of death for many cats and dogs.

Imported farmed fish have contained pesticides and drugs banned in the United States, and some of the fish were deliberately mislabeled. Imported Chinese toothpaste has been found to have bacteria in the tubes along with the chemical diethylene glycol, commonly found in anti-freeze.
List of recalls grows

And toys, the same toys we've all bought for our children to play with, like Disney Deluxe Winnie The Pooh Play sets. A recall was prompted after it was discovered that the toys contained high levels of lead.

More than 20 million Chinese-made toys have been recalled including toys related to the names Elmo, Barbie, Batman and Polly Pocket.

In September, U.S. authorities announced a recall of one million cribs made in China after at least two babies became trapped and died. More than 60 similar incidents were reported.

Because our trade with China is too one-sided and not regulated enough, the Thomas the Tank Engine toy has gone from being something cute to something dangerous. More than a million of these toys also were recalled because of lead paint.

As an advocate for American manufacturing jobs, this angers me. As a parent, this horrifies me. These are names I know and items I know that my daughter has played with.

FULL story at link.