China Law Blog

From todays WSJ: Will this ever end for Mattel?

NEWS ALERT
from The Wall Street Journal

Sept. 4, 2007

Mattel is planning to announce Wednesday a recall of 775,000 toys that are believed to contain unsafe levels of lead paint. Two of the toys are designed for preschool-age children -- one a musical instrument and the other a train toy marketed under the name "GeoTrax." About 100,000 will be affected. The lion's share of the recall -- Mattel's third this summer -- will the core Barbie brand. Seven accessories associated with the dolls are set to be recalled, a total of 675,000.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118894353067717357.html?mod=djemalert

Caveat Emptor - Let the buyer beware!!! In the case of these large importers, they should have had their own inspectors in place at the plants in China. I'm an American, and a 3rd party inspector who has lived and worked in China for the past two years. My clients hire me to look after their interests in the manufacturing process and report to them on a daily bases.
By researching accepted US and/or international standards, and relying on years of experience and reporting what we observe during the manufacturing, testing, and QA process my US client is informed of potential problems immediatly. They can then make immediate decisions as to how to appropriately respond before the product leaves the factory.
We do not need someone from Washington grandstanding and vowing to "protect us", and I for one, can protect myself quite nicely thank, you by making choices in the products I purchase, as can every other American consumer; by voting with their wallet. No one responds quicker than a Wall Street firm losing cash and the fastest cure to this issue is for the US importer to feel the sting of the devaluation of stock caused by lack of consumer confidence. This would encourage them to bring their own inspectors to the factory floor to protect the interests of the corporation and ultimately, the American consumer who already has many protection laws in place. To expect other sovereign nations to obey our laws is as preposterous as me being expected to obey Iranian Islamic Law in Indiana.
I remember that it was only a few years ago that we were saying "gyppy-Pan" to describe products from Japan, and now Japan stands as the premier example of product quality and craftsmanship, particularly in the automotive industry. NAFTA brought about a wealth of talent and expertise being imported to Mexican manufacturing plants to ensure product conformity and safety, why is China only invaded with legal and financial types who are all encamped in Shanghai having a terrific social time looking for streets paved with gold?
Why is the US not bringing more to the table other than the desire to get what we can from China as quickly and cheaply as possible? I see honorable persons in China laboring for less than $10US per day because it’s all the work they can obtain. Yet, because some US company was not responsible in checking the quality of the product during the manufacturing process, we want to get a bigger stick and beat the poor laborer with it, which is what happens in trade wars. This is makes as much sense as starving peoples with embargoes in hopes they will rise against their own government. Where is the logic in this?

And now, just a little bit off topic but still relates...... :)

By the way, Senator Schumer - The definition of Czar: also tsar or tzar (zär, tsär) A male monarch or emperor, especially one of the emperors who ruled Russia until the revolution of 1917.
The term Czar is truly sexist, (not to mention dictatorial and despotic) and I would hope that Oprah, Rosie, or Whoopi take exception to this as they have much bigger audiences than I. Appointing Czars certainly is not in line with the Democratic principles in which I adhere to and fought for in Desert Storm 1.
It is puzzling indeed that the US has become so comfortable with this term and applying it to unelected men of power in Washington. Harry Anslinger was considered to be the first Drug Czar in 1937, and was to wage "War on Drugs", which we are not winning after 70 years,(Truly our longest war). Nowadays we are waging a "War on Terrorism" and have a Homeland Security Czar. You and your colleagues feel this particular war is going very badly for the United States. Now you are proposing that a "Trade Czar" be appointed; so is the logical assumption that you want to wage war on trade?
In consideration of how our "Czars" are protecting and furthering the US citizen's best interests and defending our country, it would be appreciated if you would keep these thoughts to yourself, and refrain from your amateurish political grandstanding.
You are ill informed if you believe inspections at customs is the first solution to product safety and more laws would help. Just as each person is responsible for his or her own actions, so is every corporation, and going after the Chinese is looking in the wrong direction. Why don't we clean up our own house and not let Mattel point the blame away for their lack of governance. The last thing needed is more government through yet another agency so I ask you, “Who the hell crowned you King?" Tom Ridge???