Should the US government restrict trade with China over safety issues with Chinese products?

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Yes

by Ted Sherman

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If the word restrict here means to make sure all the Chinese imports are safe, and to ban their dangerous toys, foods, medications and other products, that's exactly right. If the word restrict means to investigate the factories where safe workplace issues are ignored, and to demand compliance with applicable US laws, that's exactly right. If the word restrict means to ban goods produced in China by forced-labor children and unpaid political prisoners, that's exactly right.

If the word restrict means that the Chinese manufacturers continue to blatantly steal designs, entertainment products and patents from legal US owners, and they ignore or refuse to pay legitimate royalties, then specific restrictions should be imposed. And, maybe most important off all, there should be US-imposed restrictions on Chinese manufacturers and/or the Communist government when they establish low-pricing and mass distribution campaigns that are specifically designed to target and destroy US-based competitors.

Free trade, as well as all other freedoms, are the bulwark of the American economic system. When American manufacturers are allowed to compete honestly on a level playing field with any other country in the world, they flourish. If, as has shamefully happened in recent years, Chinese and other government-controlle d economies decide to offer the same products, competition with US companies is targeted for destruction, then the US government should do something positive about it.

Walk into any Wal-Mart, K-Mart, department store or any other kind of big box chain outlet today. Pick up any product for sale in those stores and look at its label. If it is a toy, probably as many as 80 percent of all toys sold in US stores today are made in China. If it is an article of clothing, you should know about 60 percent of all clothing sold in US stores are made in China. If you check all the athletic shoes, you'll see "Made in China" labels on at least 50 percent of them.

While you're looking at the store's entire line of products, think about all the American manufacturers who are losing out on sales because of unfair competition, or are totally going out of business, be aware of the continuous and growing flood of Chinese products invading the American market. While you're pondering, you can think of all the American workers who are earning less or losing their jobs because of our government's failure to realize the continually worsening situation and failing to act.

There are other important issues that specifically concern safety of Chinese products. During the past holiday season, there were many recalls of Chinese toys because they contained paint with dangerous levels of lead. There were mass recalls of cans of Chinese-made dog food because it caused widespread sickness and death. And most recently, there have been investigations about the safety of Chinese-made medicines that have been imported into the US.

Of course, safety of Chinese products is an important issue, and everything our government can do to assure that American consumers are protected is critical. However, there are many other questions about the entire scope of Chinese and American business dealings that need just as much scrutiny and, when appropriate, restrictive actions.

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.

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