by Rene Riter

Created on: June 11, 2008

Should the U.S. Ban Imports from China
America has become the number one importer of products from China. As a result of this increase in trade with China many safety, economic and enviromental issues have arisen. When was the last time you went shopping and purchased an item actually made in the good old U.S.A.? I have found a few items which were made of American materials, but assembled in China. Why? What sense does it make to export the matereials for a product to China to have that product assembled in China, then imported back into the U.S.? I have to ask, is this fair trade or simply cheap labor? Are we supporting China's not so fair labor laws? Does China even have labor laws which protects its employees or prohibits child labor?

The recent, numerous recalls of products imported from China which were contaminated with lead paint, should be in itself, enough to justify a ban on Chinese imports. The quality and safety of imported products should be scrutinized carefully. In the U.S. we have the FDA and CDC continiously issuing warnings of possible harmful products. Who or what organization does China have to inspect and grade the quality and safety of its products?
The unemployment rate in the U.S. is at 5.5%. The job opportunities created by the manufacturing of China's imports should be located here in the U.S. These jobs could offset the unemployment rate.
In any country, an increased production of manufacturing creates an increased demand for oil for fuel. The highest price ever in U.S. history for a gallon of gasoline, currently at $4.00 per gallon and expected to continue to climb, is clearly eveident of the supply and demand theory.
An increase in the consumption of fuel for manufacturing also increases the amount of harmful pollutants being emitted into the air, water and soil. In the U.S. we have the EPA to monitor and regulate pollution. Who or what organization does China have? Though thousand of miles away, the impact of China's pollution will be felt globaly.
The mass exodus of China's exports has created an influx of ships transporting the products across the seas to foreign countries. This too contributes to an increase in the pollution of oceans and an increase in the demand for oil.
After considering all these factors, I have to say a ban on imports from China would be the best solution to all of the above mentioned issues. Yes, we may have to pay more for those products, but the benefits of buying American made products far outweighs the costs of buying China imports.

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