Cheap U.S imports made in China is big business in America; in fact it's big business worldwide. Profit margins obtained from goods created by Chinese workers are far too high when considering the working conditions the Chinese population is subjected to on a daily basis.

Unsafe, dangerous and at times fatal, these working conditions would have our unionists leaping over hoops to establish a safer environment and us workers boycotting our employers. We'd be demanding answers, standing in picket lines until we obtain our demands, down tools until we receive what we want.

Recently we were outraged at popular toys for children containing traces of chemicals associated with recreational drugs. These were found in the production of Bindeez' beads for children. The high content of lead found in toys and the increase of lead deposits in our children's blood, also manufactured in China, caused outrage. These items are not only limited to children.

Just this year other products found to be potentially dangerous that were imported from China were heaters that began to smoke when turned on, remote controls that were overheating, defective lamps, defective jewelry, extension cords that when plugged in were electrocuting users, poisonous pet food found to kill American pets and even to toothpaste containing deadly poisons.

If these toys and goods are causing damage to our children and us at the end product stage, imagine what they're doing to the employees who are manufacturing them? Why is something that harms our children causing such outrage, when we don't consider or express outrage to the health of Chinese factory workers? What are our responsibilities as American importers and the responsibility of us as consumers when it comes to this problem?

These question and more need to be addressed. Now that we are being made aware of the situation Chinese workers face daily and are suffering the consequences our selves, how do we help our brothers across the other side of the ocean? Should we even be concerned for the health and safety of Chinese workers? These questions and more will be addressed below.

WHY IS IMPORTING FROM CHINA THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE?

Importing cheap goods from China can only be obtained by the employment of cheap labor. Unsafe work conditions and a large population of people who, just like you and me, must work to support our families, are working terribly long hours for minimal wage. The conditions in which they

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