U.S.-Made Toys Benefit From China’s Troubles

The recent recalls of Chinese-made toys found to contain lead in their paint has been good for U.S. toy makers who had a hard time competing against cheaper Chinese imports.

(http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/15/business/15toys.html)

With about 80 percent of the toys sold in the United States manufactured in China, the relatively few manufacturers of American-made toys who remain have relied to some extent on snob appeal and survived mostly by emphasizing the quality of their products — even if they cost more money.

But some are now pointing to another competitive advantage: you can count on them to be lead free.

After struggling for years to compete against cheaper Chinese imports, several manufacturers of American-made toys said they had been inundated with calls in recent weeks from retail chains and customers inquiring about their products.

The calls increased yesterday after Mattel announced its second major recall of Chinese-made toys that contain lead paint. In June, an Illinois toy manufacturer, RC2 Corporation, recalled 1.5 million Thomas & Friends toy train sets that were manufactured in China and contaminated with lead aint.

I hope this is a high time that Chinese entrepreneurs get really alerted to the safety of the product prior to profit. After all, these days it seems almost impossible for so many people in this world, to have a daily life without using Chinese imports from food to toys.