Spokeswoman: Washington working on Chinese defects

Washington is working on the problem of defective consumer products being delivered from China to the United States, according to a spokeswoman for the White House.

But it appears that the only permanent solution will be for the Chinese to have a higher level of concern about what they are exporting, government leaders say.

Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House, asked President Bush's spokeswoman, Dana Perino, about the issue on which WND has reported repeatedly.

(Story continues below)

"WorldNetDaily has reviewed Consumer Product Safety Commission reports confirming that two of every three products recalled for safety concerns during 2007 were Chinese imports. And my question, what are U.S. regulators doing to hold Chinese manufacturers to their promises of higher safety standards?" he asked.

"[Health and Human Services] Secretary [Michael] Leavitt led a group by the president and a task force in order to help address these issues," Perino said. "And we know that right now, up on Capitol Hill, they are about to take up a reauthorization of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. So we're working with Congress on that."

Chinese workers

WND has reported on contaminated pajamas from China, a variety of contaminated Chinese food products delivered to the U.S., and even faulty fireworks.

U.S. leaders have been in talks with Chinese officials about such problems, and have elicited promises of higher quality and closer inspections.

However, WND's recent assessment of the results from 2007 showed two of every three products recalled by the CPSC for potential dangers to consumers were Chinese products.

The CPSC recalled a total of 447 products for safety concerns last year. Of those, 298 were manufactured in China. Only 62 were made in the USA. The rest were made in other countries.

In 2006, the CPSC recalled a total of 467 kinds of products … 221 of which were Chinese imports. Only 113 were for products made in the USA. As recently as 2002, the figures were virtually reversed … with 150 U.S. made products being recalled and just 99 from China.

Just weeks ago, federal officials, including Levitt, traveled to China to address concerns, and Levitt said the message that was delivered was that quality control must improve at the point of manufacture.

"We cannot inspect our way to product safety," he told the National Press Club shortly after his trip. He said the Chinese agreed to two plans that puts the onus on the Chinese and their manufacturers to maintain quality, rather than inspectors in the U.S.

Those specific agreements cover high-risk food and feed products, and medical devices and drugs.

China agreed to make certain those manufacturers are registered with inspectors in China, and those regulators then make sure products heading for the U.S. meet U.S. requirements.

Leavitt also has recommended using independent inspectors, such as Underwriter's Laboratory, to ease the work load at the U.S. ports of entry where products are delivered, and when someone violates the rules, the case should be publicized so consumers know.

He's also recommended sending U.S. inspectors overseas to watch the process from that end, and restrictions, such as the level of lead allowed in children's toys, should be tightened.

Fines against non-cooperating companies also should be raised from their current maximums of about $1.4 million to $100 million, he said.

The Chinese in the past have been reluctant to even admit there is a problem, but Leavitt said only the Chinese can repair the damage such problems have created.

"The 'made in China' brand will be seriously harmed over time if they don't meet U.S. standards," he said.

WND's research showed Chinese products recalled in 2007 included:

 

• Portable baby swings that entrap youngsters, resulting in 60 reports of cuts, bruises and abrasions;
• Swimming pool ladders that break, resulting in 127 reports of injuries, including leg lacerations requiring up to 21 stitches, five reports of bone fractures, two back injuries, two reports of torn ligaments and eight sprained ankles;
  
• Faulty baby carriers that result in babies falling out and getting bruised, getting skulls cracked and hospitalizations;
  
• Easy-Bake Ovens that trap children's fingers in openings, resulting in burns;
  
• Oscillating tower fans whose faulty wiring results in fires, burns and smoke inhalation injuries;
  
• Exploding air pumps that have resulted in 13 lacerations including six facial injuries and one to the eye;
  
• Bargain-priced oil-filled electric heaters, selling for less than $50, that burn down homes;
  
• Notebook computer batteries that burn up computers, cause other property damage and burn users;
  
• Circular saws with faulty blade guards that result in cutting users, not wood.

WND also has reported on Chinese imports that poisoned America's pets, risked America's human food supply and reintroduced lead poisoning to America's children.

Other problems have occurred with power strips and extension cords, holiday lights and batteries.

China also consistently has topped the list of countries whose products were refused by the FDA … and that list includes many countries, including Mexico and Canada, who export far more food products to the U.S. than China.

The Chinese government, in fact, actually has blamed WND's reports for fanning the flames of hysteria about the safety of Chinese products.

In a second question, Kinsolving asked about Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential nomination race.

"When asked last night about the endorsement of him by Louis Farrakhan, Sen. Obama replied that Farrakhan's anti-Semitism is, 'reprehensible,' and that he had not sought Farrakhan's endorsement. And my question: This statement by Sen. Obama deserves White House approval, doesn't it?" Kinsolving asked.

"I'm not going to comment in any way on the '08 election," Perino said.

 

---

Do you have a tough question you'd like to ask the White House? WND's MR. PRESIDENT! forum is your big chance.

 

---

Related offers:

China: The Gathering Threat

Get "The Late Great USA" by Jerome Corsi to learn about the threat of the North American Union and continued globalization

Get "Taking America Back," Joseph Farah's manifesto for sovereignty, self-reliance and moral renewal

Get Tom Tancredo's new book, "In Mortal Danger," from the people who published it - WND Books

The master plan to rule the world exposed

Shocking, connect-the-dots expos? of globalist plot

 

---

Previous stories:

Guess which country topped 2007 recall list?

China's toy sweatshop pays 36 cents an hour

Chinese government not to blame for infected hard drives?

China, U.S. near 1st agreement on food imports

Poison PJs from China

Latest China scare: Don't eat the ginger

Latest China food scare: Don't eat pickled vegetables!

Made in China, recalled in U.S.

Snow: Product unsafe? Recall it

Chinese honey now reported among import dangers

'Dependence Day?' America at mercy of China fireworks

Sweden, too, worried about China imports

No standard safety regs with Beijing on food, drugs

More lead-poison toys from China recalled

Florida company recalls 'toxic' China toothpaste

China products choke, burn, drown, drop, trap Americans

China exports lead poisoning

China's toothpaste contaminant has long, deadly, grisly history

Seafood imports from China raised in untreated sewage

Is China trying to poison Americans and their pets?