Advertisement
US consumers face safety risks as Chinese goods flood country, congressional panel hears
- Challenge exacerbated by loophole allowing shipments under US$800 to bypass import tariffs, most safety inspections and other oversight, witnesses say
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission ‘looking at risk factors’ like who is in the supply chain, new companies and repeat violators
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
5
Mark Magnierin New York
The health of American consumers is highly vulnerable to a torrent of Chinese goods entering the country through a loophole allowing shipments under US$800 to bypass import tariffs, most safety inspections and other oversight, according to testimony before a US congressional commission on Friday.
Advertisement
Products qualifying under de minimis trade provisions – the object of two bipartisan bills in Congress aimed at limiting or outlawing the exemptions granted smaller imports – have expanded 30 per cent in the past year, commissioners reported.
While the huge increase is driven in part by Chinese exporters, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission heard, it also reflects changes in American consumer behaviour as e-commerce has proliferated following the coronavirus pandemic, undercutting retailers who import huge volumes that are often easier to scrutinise.
“We’re looking at risk factors, such as who’s in the supply chain, regardless of country, are there new companies involved, repeat violators, products of interest,” said James Joholske of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, which protects consumers from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death.
“I would just say, from a risk-assessment perspective, I don’t think we need to target China because the risk is leading us into that direction.”
Advertisement
Joholske said its oversight was driven by the sheer volume of exports from the Asian manufacturing powerhouse.
Advertisement