This list is fully plagiarized from the Boston Globe today:

Aug. 8: Schylling Associates Inc. recalls 51,000 Thomas & Friends, Curious George, and Circus tops due to lead paint.

July 18: The Army & Air Force Exchange Service recalls about 13,000 Soldier Bear brand toy sets in the United States because of lead paint.

July 5: Kipp Brothers Toys and Novelties recalls about 800 of its Mag Stix Magnetic Building Sets because magnets could detach and cause intestinal perforation or blockage.

June 13: RC2 Corp. recalls about 1.5 million Thomas & Friends wooden railway toys in the United States because of lead paint.

May 30: Boyds Collection Ltd. recalls about 4,500 of the Eli's Small Drums and the Liberty's Large Drums in the United States because of lead paint.

The New York Times Editorial Board is a major opponent of enforcing trade rules.  Any proposal to enforce rules are called, by the Board, "protectionist" and an effort to "erect a barricade."

Their editorial today shows the quandary they face between unthinking "free trade" advocacy, and their concern for safety and economic strength.  They denounce the lack of quality in China, but say it is not in our interest to start a "trade war."

Did someone propose a trade war?  I can't recall that.  Did someone propose "erecting barriers?"  No.  

But we do propose enforcing rules prohibiting unfair trade practices and neutralizing currency manipulation.  We do propose eliminating the mercantilist effects of border adjustable taxes used by more than 140 of our trading partners.

Can someone please join an intelligent debate, and graduate from junior high? 

The news keeps coming.  Nokia now warned consumers that 46 million of its handsets contain defective batteries that coud overheat and even dislodge during recharging.  They were made in China.

Nokia has 38% of the world mobile phone market, and is the largest manufacturer.  This is not a recall, but an offer to replace the batteries at no cost.  

“What is disappointing is what this suggests about the value behind big brands,” said Jim Murray, director of the European Consumers’ Organization, a Brussels group that represents 40 national consumer organizations. “Nokia and Fisher-Price are brands whose products we assume have high value. This shows companies must be even more diligent in protecting the quality of their brands.”

This is the biggest toy recall in history, 19 million toys by Mattel.  Yesterday the recall was 9 million, but today we have more information.

Chinese-made die-cast toy cars are covered with lead paint, 436,000 of them.  Another 18.2 million toys were recalled because their small magnets could harm children if swallowed.  They were made in China, but apparently followed Mattel design specifications.  About half the toys were distributed in the U.S.

This is an interesting quote:

“If I went down the shelves of Wal-Mart and tested everything, I’m going to find serious problems,” said Sean McGowan, managing director and the toy analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities. “The idea that Mattel — with its high standards — has a bigger problem than everybody else is laughable. If we don’t see an increase of recalls in this industry, then it’s a case of denial.”

China's currency manipulation continues.  It caused, in large part, a record high $21.2 billion U.S.-China trade deficit in June.  Poison people and pet food and dangerous toys are ultimately a small part of the deficit.  There could be shifts in production from safety concerns, but the "China Price" continues to be attractive.

Nonetheless, some U.S. manufacturers are seeing increased sales, especially in toys.

Shoddy standards and fly-by-night operations in China produce poor products across the board.  Clothes that rip at the seams shortly after purchase, steel that does not meet generally accepted standards, pesticides (like glyphosate) that are mixed in ways that produce dangerous impurities, electric clock radios that break, etc.  We have purchased some of these products as consumers.  How much of this will cause a future consumer backlash?