More News and Site Updates... Note: Items with a [blue star] are written by Roger Simmermaker.      Hoekstra hears pleas for fair trade with China Andrew Jensen, of die maker UEI Incorporated in Grand Rapids, said that to sell a $100,000 die in China, his company must pay about $30,000 in tariffs. But turn the tables and a Chinese company would incur only about $3,000 in tariffs selling the same die here.    Honda FourTrax Foreman ATVs recalled The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall Friday of Honda Motor Co. all-terrain vehicles due to loss of steering control. Riders could risk injury or death, the statement said.    Bottle warmers recalled About 5,000 deluxe bottle and food warmers, manufactured in China by Munchkin Inc., pulled back because they can overheat, posing a risk of fire.    Lipinski Rips Pollutants And Biz in China Chicagoland has been particularly hard hit by unfair Chinese competition, losing over 100,000 manufacturing jobs in the past decade. The pollution in China is so bad that several Olympic athletes have expressed concern for their health in the run up to the Beijing Olympics this summer.    BAMW: A gift for Mom can be a gift for the U.S. economy, too This Mother’s Day there are patriotic ways to thank Mom for all the times she’s on the go and selflessly doing things for other family members or loved ones.    UK Press Release: American Cars Offer Great Value for Money Compared to Their European Counterparts. With a Weak Dollar, Now is the Time to Buy American It’s too bad our press does not tout our American cars like the UK.    Trade Deficits: The Cause of Our Economic Troubles Many of the most serious economic problems facing the U.S. today are the result of the trade deficits of the past 2½ decades which exploded from $96.2 billion in 1996 to $708 billion in 2007, equivalent to the output (value-added) of 6.4 million industrial workers.    3Com hitches its wagon to China The telecommunications equipment maker 3Com is based in Marlborough, Massachusetts. But the announcement that its new chief executive will be based in Hong Kong leaves no doubt the firm's future is in China.    U.S. lawmakers seek more foreign drug plant checks One proposal would require drugmakers to pay fees to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to boost capacity to check overseas manufacturing sites in an effort to keep counterfeit or contaminated drugs from reaching the U.S. market.    Indian steelmaker to buy US firm Indian steel producer Essar Steel is to buy American steel firm Esmark in a $778 million deal.    BAMW: American-Made Options for Washers and Dryers Staber Industries has been family owned and operated since 1976 when they began re-manufacturing laundry equipment from American manufacturers like GE, Maytag and Whirlpool.    Bush Reaffirms North American Union Agenda At Leaders' Summit President Bush yesterday reaffirmed a commitment to progress the much maligned Security and Prosperity Partnership agenda, amid intensified opposition from commentators and critics concerned that the plan constitutes an undermining of national sovereignty.    Alliance for American Manufacturing blames unfair trade practices for drop When AAM executive director Scott Paul and his wife were looking for a crib for soon-to-be born twins, product recalls and lead paint problem with China-made goods convinced them to look elsewhere. The only places in North America he could find that made cribs were Amish craftsmen and a Canadian company.    La-Z-Boy plant to close; town shocked 630 will lose their jobs when furniture maker shifts operations to Mexico.    U.S. Identifies Tainted Heparin in 11 Countries A contaminated blood thinner from China has been found in drug supplies in 11 countries, and federal officials said Monday they had discovered a clear link between the contaminant and severe reactions now associated with 81 deaths in the United States.    FDA says new evidence links heparin problems to China Food and Drug Administration officials said Monday they have new evidence that links hundreds of serious adverse reactions and scores of deaths among patients given the blood thinner heparin to a man-made contaminant introduced during production in China.    America's Fastest Dying Industries According to the Labor Department, apparel manufacturers are expected to decrease by 54 percent while their output falls more than 43 percent between 2006 and 2016. Jobs in the ailing printing business will drop by 22 percent during the next decade, with output falling by 12 percent.    How to stop China from stealing our jobs On April 18, China won another battle in its one-sided trade war against the United States when America's last remaining motorcycle maker, Harley-Davidson, announced plans to lay off 730 workers. These workers will join the approximately 2.3 million Americans who have already lost their good-paying manufacturing jobs to the Chinese strategy of selling to the United States without buying from us.    BAMW: It’s Not a New Lamp, It’s an Investment in America Direct competition through free trade with third world countries that pay pennies-on-the-hour wages can only destine us to a future of lower wages and reduced consumption.    BAMW: Spring for American-Made Goods this Spring If you’re sprucing up your home to match the sights and sounds of the season, there are certain ways you can buy American and spruce up the balance sheets of American companies employing American workers at the same time.    We trust strangers with our financial future The challenge for American corporations is to find a way to pay people $15 to $20 an hour and charge the same price as a corporation in a country that pays maybe $1 or $2 per hour. Sound impossible? You’re right, it is impossible.    Patriotism, Protection and Prosperity After handing the Red Coats a one-way ticket across the pond, the Founders capitalized on their industrial independence by creating an economic system predicated on the commonsense principles of protection and preservation of domestic industry, especially manufacturing.    More Honduran cantaloupes recalled The FDA previously issued an import alert concerning cantaloupes supplied by Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower and packer, since fruit from that company appears to be associated with a U.S. and Canadian Salmonella outbreak.    America's Coming Garage Sale The upside to greater foreign investment in the U.S. will be the strengthening of the dollar and the resurrection of stock and property prices. The downside is that the foreign business community – especially in Asia – will own larger swaths of the U.S. economy. And it is these foreign buyers who will benefit from the increases in the value of assets and the dollar.    BAMW: 'Free trade' that isn't free 'Neither tariffs nor trade protection is the problem' American tariffs and trade protection are not the problem. Lack of adequate tariffs to level the playing field by mindless faith in free trade and free markets followed by Federal Reserve intervention which can lead to catastrophes like the Great Depression is the problem.    A Closer Look at Domestic-Parts Content By most measures, Detroit automakers come out ahead. The sales-weighted content for GM and Ford close to 80 percent, with Chrysler at 74 percent. In comparison, Honda's sales-weighted content is 51 percent, with Nissan at 46 percent and Toyota at 40 percent.    The Cars.com American-Made Index While Ford and GM continue their reign on the American-Made Index, the long-running No. 2 car, the Toyota Camry, has fallen completely off the list and, just like last time, Chrysler is still missing from the Index.    Pack your pocketbook with patriotism Citing the belief once expressed by Thomas Jefferson, that, "I have come to a resolution myself, as I hope every good citizen will, never again to purchase any article of foreign manufacture which can be had of American make, be the difference of price what it may," the author explains how to buy appliances, electronics, clothing and dozens of other items, still made in America.    BAMW: How to Buy an American Bicycle If that outdoors time includes cycling and you want to buy American, you’re going to have to think outside the big-box and take a road less traveled to get an American-made bicycle.    Trade, Economy Becoming Focus of Pa. Primary "The Democratic and Republican presidential candidates remain clueless about the nation's biggest trade challenges, heatedly debating NAFTA and ignoring the far greater damage inflicted by China's mercantilism," said Alan Tonelson, a Research Fellow at the U.S. Business and Industry Council.    Buying American finally made easy Guide lists thousands of manufacturers who still make it in USA.    To Die for NAFTA McCain admits to knowing almost nothing about economics and is now being advised by my old friend Jack Kemp. In a Wall Street Journal essay bemoaning my views, Kemp concedes, "I'm on the advisory board of Toyota North America and now drive a hybrid Lexus."    Boeing to challenge Air Force decision on tanker contract "Our team has taken a very close look at the tanker decision and found serious flaws in the process that we believe warrant appeal," said Boeing Chief Executive James McNerney.    Orlando-area agencies shun hybrid vehicles Many governments - Orlando is a prime example - will buy only American-made cars, which often limits selections to vehicles that consume more gas.    Denison company uses all American-made materials Mick Greenway says his cargo nets are more durable than the competition and definitely a lot easier to manage. The shock cord Greenway purchases from a mill in Minnesota. The fasteners are manufactured in Oklahoma. He explained it was important for him to use only materials made in America.    Polaris Rolls Out New Snowmobile Line-up The Victory motorcycle division was established in 1998 representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.    BAMW: American-Made Eyewear, No Sweat Apparel, and American Tuna The Original Pilot Sunglass has been a favorite of U.S. military pilots for over 40 years. These sunglasses are American made, performance tested and have been issued to millions of U.S. soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen since 1958...    Palm Bay policy: Buy local, buy American Roger Simmermaker, an Orlando resident and author of "How Americans Can Buy American," told the council that it would work to the city's advantage to have a "buy local" policy. "There's not a lot of municipalities out there doing what (you're) doing," he said. "The Constitution says we're to form a more perfect union, not a more perfect global economy."    BAMW: Female Footwear, Union-Made Apparel, and American-Made Decorative Carolers & Figures Some loyal readers have been asking "where’s the footwear for us females?"    Another American Bank Falls Into Foreign Hands North Carolina-based RBC Centura Banks, which is a subsidiary of Toronto-based Royal Bank of Canada, will brand Alabama National's 10 subsidiaries and 103 branch locations -- including Florida Choice Bank located in Central Florida -- as RBC Bank starting in April.    Growing Foreign Government Investments May Threaten U.S. National Security "Governments are motivated by a broader range of factors than commercial investors," said Senator Jim Webb (D-VA). "While foreign governments may invest money in our country to make a profit, they may also do so in order to further their foreign policy ambitions, to acquire national security assets, or to purchase a stake in strategic industries."    Private Sector: How to avoid recession and expand the economy As Lee Iacocca writes, "We worship at the altar of free trade, and it's killing us. At the very least, it's time we started charging admission to the American market. And the price of a ticket has to be a little fairness and reciprocity."    Free Trade and that Giant Sucking Sound There are few things that are more repugnant, intellectually and morally, than a person with secure employment in a well-paying job (with health benefits and a pension plan) nonchalantly dismissing the anxieties of workers who become unemployed, or who are under the threat of becoming unemployed, due to the effects of globalization.    BAMW: Toys, Terror-Free Oil, Art, Pillow Cases, Politics, and Glenn Beck In case you thought our problems with dangerous Chinese imports was over, we now learn that we can’t even buy Valentine’s Day candy without surprises of the wrong kind.    Retailers impose new toy safety rules After facing recall after recall of millions of Chinese-made items, the nation's biggest toy sellers are imposing stricter measures on their suppliers - including tougher standards for lead content - to get ahead of expected new federal legislation.    Toy makers tweak lines to offset rising import costs Next holiday, that toy that was supposed to talk for a minute will talk for 40 seconds, and that portable electronic quiz game will ask fewer questions. Facing higher costs in China, the nation's toy makers are tweaking their new product lines and scaling back their offerings.    Importer recalls Valentine's Day lollipops Voluntary recall comes after pieces of metal found in at least two Pokemon lollipops imported from China.    America for sale It's not just Wall Street bailouts. Foreign ownership of U.S. assets is accelerating - and that's a worrisome trend.    FDA never inspected China maker of Baxter's heparin U.S. regulators have never inspected the Chinese plant that makes Baxter International's heparin, regulators disclosed a day after Baxter halted sales of some versions after four patients died and hundreds became ill.    BAMW: Great American Apparel and Great American Work Boots! All American Clothing Co. is fast becoming one of the most well known sources of USA-made jeans. Their jeans use only USA-made raw materials and are cut and sewn in the USA.    Patriot Corporation of America Act The Senate's "Patriot Employers" version would give a 1 percent tax credit on taxable income for companies that maintain or increase their U.S. employment in relation to their overseas workers. They must also keep their corporate headquarters in the U.S.    Buy American to help our economy How are we going to grow our economy when we don't buy products made or built in America?    Senator Pushes 'Buy American' Logo In Tax Rebate If you're planning on rushing out to Best Buy or Target to stimulate the economy and blow your tax rebate check this spring, Sen. Byron Dorgan is hoping you'll think twice. Instead of spending the money on a TV made in Korea or clothing made in China, the North Dakota Democrat is pushing for taxpayers to use their rebate to buy American. In fact, Dorgan has offered an amendment to the Senate economic stimulus bill that would require millions of rebate checks to have the slogan "Support Our Economy - Buy American."    America for sale It's not just Wall Street bailouts. Foreign ownership of U.S. assets is accelerating - and that's a worrisome trend.    New US Army action figures made in China The US Army is now making action figures out of real soldiers from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army says, "What's the big deal? 80 percent of the toys sold in the US are made in China."    Total Recal Products recalled from Jan. 29-Feb. 5 include goods from Korea, Mexico, and of course China.    Mattel CEO sees positive 2008, cost concerns Mattel recalled over 21 million Chinese-made toys worldwide in 2007 due to excessive levels of lead paint and other unsafe components, stoking fears of a loss in consumer confidence.    China's paradox; Bigger economic clout will mean it's more dependent on Western approval There's a joke making the rounds these days that officials sent a shipment of lead back to China. Why? Because it had too many toys in it.    BAMW: Supporting American-Made Apparel, Display Tables, Games & Toys, and the Second Amendment Buying American is no sweat either, because all Shivers Wear is made in USA.    BAMW: American-Made Leather Products, Furniture, Pet Supplies and Pool Tables! Although their name suggests they are from Key West they are actually located in Daytona Beach, Florida, where all their products are made.    Orlando Man Says: Buy American He’s urging money from the economic stimulus plan be spent on made in the U.S. products or "We’re going to squander all the benefits from that economic stimulus package."    Sock industry suffers more; trade sanctions against Honduras expected A deluge of cheaper sock imports from Honduras has hurt the domestic industry enough to warrant new trade sanctions, the federal government announced Friday. The government said the U.S. imported 27.3 million dozen pairs of cotton socks from Honduras in the first 11 months of 2007, an increase of 99 percent over the same period the year before.    Made in America? Still, growing numbers of Americans have become tired of shoddy and sometimes dangerous imports. They're taking time to find and buy domestic substitutes, even if those products cost more, said Roger Simmermaker, an Orlando-based author who has been crusading against outsourcing for more than a decade.    Blue-Collar Jobs Disappear, Taking Families’ Way of Life Along Slammed by the continued decline in the automobile and steel businesses, Ohio never recovered from the recession of 2001-2, and blue-collar families who had made it partway up the economic ladder find themselves slipping back, with chaotic effects on families and dreams.    Study: American-Made Still Matters According to a recent study, Americans still look to support their own economy when it comes to vehicle-buying decisions. Research from the Level Field Institute indicated that 79 percent of the 715 nationwide "likely car buyers" surveyed were more apt to buy a vehicle if it was American-made.    Layoffs expected at sock plant in Alamance Since Jan. 1, 2006, the state's sock mills have laid off more than 3,600 employees, industry representatives say. Many of those losses have been blamed on the Central America Free Trade Agreement, which removed tariffs from all sock imports from that region beginning in April 2006.    Trouble With Trade by Paul Krugman A committed free trader admits flaws in free trade    Many problems from 'free trade' One of Santa's biggest surprises this Christmas has been the storm over unsafe toys for children. Should we have been so surprised?    Iowa Caucuses: The Good Guys Are Winning on Trade So-called "free trade" agreements start out from the wrong premise: that trade agreements should be primarily about protecting investment and capital and, then, only as an afterthought, do the agreements wrestle with how workers and the environment should be treated.    Trade policy comes under the spotlight The most bellicose rhetoric has come from John Edwards, the third-placed Democrat whom polls have shown surging back into contention ahead of tomorrow's Iowa caucuses. He has called for "trade without trade-offs" that puts the interests of "regular families" ahead of multinational corporations.    Select few see benefits of free trade: report The large Canadian-based corporations and their CEOs that led the campaign for North American free trade are the major beneficiaries of the agreements, while their employees and Canadian workers in general have been the victims, an economic think-tank said yesterday.    Terror-Free Oil! Want to buy American gasoline from American oil companies? See this list and find out where to fill up and where not to!    Orlando man's message: Buy made-in-U.S. products We are, Simmermaker says, supporting companies that "employ Chinese by the millions, sending money to people who don't pay taxes to America, or contribute to our Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid -- this is why it's so important to buy American-made products from American-owned companies."    Christmas ... Made in China So Santa, what I want next year is a new president. I want one who will bring jobs back to the United States.    Campbell Soup selling Godiva to Turkish company Campbell Soup Co. said on Thursday it agreed to sell its Godiva Chocolatier business for $850 million to Yildiz Holding A.S. Yildiz is the owner of the Ulker ULKER.IS Group, a diversified food company based in Istanbul, Turkey.    Teamsters to Leaflet at United Airlines Terminals During Busy Travel Day They will tell air travelers that United Airlines outsources all heavy maintenance of its Boeing 747s and 777s to South Korea and China. In the Beijing repair facility, only five of 2,179 mechanics are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. United now wants to sell its San Francisco maintenance facility.    Local Man Leads Buyers To U.S.-Made Toys "The polls have shown that especially with these China recalls that have happened recently that people are more aware of buying American. Some polls have even shown Americans are willing to pay even more money for an American-made product whether it is out of safety, patriotism or whatever," said Simmermaker.    Free trade finding more resistance A poll conducted last month by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press showed that 44 percent of S.C. Democrats surveyed said free-trade agreements were a bad thing -- roughly the same figure as four years ago. On the other side of the political spectrum, a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll in October showed that 60 percent of Republicans agreed that free trade has been bad for the country.    China-Made Face Paint Found to Be Toxic Two Chinese-made toy makeup sets seized in Hong Kong contained high levels of lead, chromium and barium, the local government said Wednesday.    Groups Release Guide to Toxins in Toys Tests on more than 1,200 children's products, most of them still on store shelves, found that 35 percent contain lead - many with levels far above the federal recall standard used for lead paint.    M&M looks for bargain basement buys in US Helped by a booming economy at home, Anand Mahindra, chief of India's $6 billion Mahindra Group, intends to use the weak US dollar to buy manufacturing plants in "bargain basement" America.    Keep it `Made in Carolinas' Voters must make politicians take a stand on U.S. manufacturing    BAMW: American Hero Companies Next time you hear about a U.S. factory about to close and move overseas, check the price tag of that product currently made by the domestic factory, and then check it again once that product begins to be sourced offshore. You might be surprised that there is little, if any, price difference...    America’s Largest Bank Turns to Abu Dhabi Wealth Fund: The largest state of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, now ranks as the largest shareholder for Citigroup Inc.    Philips to Buy Genlyte for $2.7B Louisville, Ky.-based Genlyte makes fixtures for lights used mostly by companies.    Sweatshop Crucifixes Pulled from Saint Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity Church While it was an excellent first step for Saint Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity Church to pull the sweatshop crucifixes from their gift shops, their responsibility does not end there.    Slaughter asks Mattel to open plant here Rep. Louise Slaughter thinks she knows how Mattel can bounce back from the bad publicity of its toy recalls: Have Fisher-Price start building toys again in Western New York.    Seeking Safer Toys? Buy American is Back in Vogue Parents looking to fill their children’s holiday wish have more to worry about that whether Johnny or Susie was naughty or nice.    Goldman Sachs: Indian/Chinese Institutions Could Buy American Banks I never thought I would see this in my lifetime but emerging market financial institutions from India or China may be able to buy out American banks due to the fallout from mortgage crisis, according to the latest Goldman Sachs report.    BAMW: Long-Awaited Third Edition Almost Here! The long-awaited third edition of How Americans Can Buy American: The Power of Consumer Patriotism will be available soon for $18.95. This new and updated book will be printed in early December, 2007.    What is Made in America? "Everything I'm wearing right now, every single thing I wear every day is made in America. If I can do it, everyone can do it," said author Roger Simmermaker. He wrote the book, "How Americans Can Buy American."    Apple drinks a favorite during the chill of the season Martinelli’s (www.martinellis.com) is one nationally recognized company that sells only USA grown apple juice and cider.    BAMW: So Chrysler Is (Mostly) American Again - Now What? In any case, American car buyers who buy from Chrysler because they want to do the patriotic thing and save an American icon may destroy one or two others in the process.    Recent recalls of foreign-made toys have consumers looking for made-in-U.S.A label Roger Simmermaker -- the author of "How Americans Can Buy American: The Power of Consumer Patriotism" -- said there are three ways to strengthen the movement. "Let the companies and our representatives know about the issue, buy American where we can, and raise tariffs on Chinese products," said Simmermaker, who also runs a Web site, howtobuyamerican.com.    Patriotic holiday shopping: How to buy American "What we can do is buy American made toys and other products where they’re available," says Roger Simmermaker who runs a website on how to buy American.    Harkin remarks on Maytag closing According to a study by economists at Iowa State University, the average income in Jasper County in 2005 was $34,400 with Maytag jobs in the mix. Without the Maytag jobs, the average income will drop by nearly $5,000.    Edwards' attack on Peru deal shifts debate The Democratic presidential field tilted to the left over the weekend as John Edwards came out against the US free trade agreement with Peru.    U.S. recalls more Chinese-made toys; lead paint mars bobble heads The government said it was recalling 142,000 toy buckets decorated in a Halloween theme that have been sold by Family Dollar stores across the country.    Senators Call For 'Sweatshop-Free Barbie' "If you move production to Chinese factories that cut every possible corner to lower costs," said bill co-sponsor and North Dakota Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan at a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing today, "You end up with young women worked to death in China and products that end up poisoning our kids here at home."    Bear Sterns/CITIC to invest $1B in each other, develop Chinese businesses Bear Stearns Cos. and CITIC Securities Co., a China-based securities services firm, agreed to invest $1 billion in each other and plan to form a strategic alliance that will share management expertise and technology to develop financial products and businesses in China.    Florida City Tries to Ban Chinese Products Palm Bay, Fla., is considering a ban of the purchase of products made in China. If it passes, the central Florida town would be the first in the nation to ban goods from one particular country.    Intel to start production at new $3 billion plant Intel plans to start production this week at a new $3 billion factory in Arizona that will be its first to mass-produce chips with circuits almost a third smaller than before.    Rising trade gap with China worries E.U. European Union officials are in a quandary over the multi-nation organisation’s trade and economic relations with China in the context of the ever-widening trade imbalance in favour of China, currently growing at the rate of $15 million to $20 million per hour.    U.S. eases rules for five companies importing technology into China The Commerce Department said five Chinese firms had been granted "validated end-user" status as part of a program aimed at boosting U.S. trade with China.    USA : Duty-free LDC bill another China giveaway The legislation would give duty-free access to the U.S. market to imports of all products from virtually all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) countries.    Free trade and the US election America, it seems, is experiencing a revival of protectionism.    More China Recalls Are You Surprised?    J.C. Penney, others recall 90,000 toys for lead J.C. Penney Co. recalled more than 70,000 imported children items, including Winnie the Pooh play sets that were made in China, because they contained unsafe amounts of lead paint.    Winnie the Pooh toys the latest recall out of China The U.S. Congress held hearings in September on lead in children's toys, which may cause brain damage if ingested, and the safety of Chinese imports.    U.S. slams Brazil, India, South Africa for refusing to open up goods markets Washington conceded ground on farm subsidies on condition that other countries accept Falconer's plan for cutting tariffs on farm products.    Wal-Mart defends low-cost imports as serving customers Chief Executive Lee Scott defended Wal-Mart's reliance on low-cost imports Wednesday against what he called emerging economic nationalism and said he would like to stock more American-made goods but that Wal-Mart's business model is based on offering the lowest price for consumers who cannot afford to spend more.    Palm Bay Mayor Wants to Ban All Products from China Here we go again: Razor recalling 20,000 electric scooters. Turns out the handlebars can fall off. That makes nearly 700,000 Chinese- made items recalled just this week.    Made in China: it's not just toys Martinelli's is one of a few companies that use only American-grown apples to make juice. That's something he boasts about given the recent problems with Chinese products.    Going, Going, Gone........America Our national highways and other infrastructures were bought and paid for by the citizen taxpayers of this country. Now, those same assets are being offered to the highest bidders, mostly foreign ones.    Toxic Pet Toys: A Doctor's Advice Are pet toys safe? Answer: Hot air aside, no one knows    eToys finds support for U.S.-made toys Online retailer eToys.com said Friday consumers surveyed are taking a buy-American approach to toy shopping.    U.S. recalls 635,000 Chinese-made products The US consumer safety agency announced Thursday the recall of more than 635,000 Chinese-made toys, key chains and other products that contain unsafe levels of lead or pose a choking hazard.    Government Agency Plays Catch-up The Department of Health and Human Services may send information about fuel-efficient American-made vehicles to its 67,000 workers after the agency was criticized for issuing a government newsletter that touted foreign automakers.    People Need Choice To Buy Products Made In America The American people should have the right to buy American goods manufactured and produced in the good old U.S.A. Making such a choice available will have many benefits, including the creation of more U.S. jobs, an increased tax base and most likely better quality products.    Selling American Brick by Brick Bain Capital LLC and Huawei Technologies Co., China's largest maker of equipment for telecommunications networks, hired five banks to arrange $1.2 billion of loans for their proposed buyout of 3Com Corp., said three people with direct knowledge of the deal.    Bills Targeting China’s Trade Practices Draw Concern From Business Leaders More than 150 companies and business associations recently sent a letter to every House and Senate member, urging them to refrain from pursuing legislation that could hurt the U.S.-China trading relationship.    Clinton Turns on Clinton on Free Trade President Clinton is closing one policy disagreement wife Senator Clinton while keeping another alive, saying his wife is right to forbid the use of torture but wrong that his signature trade deal has "hurt" American workers.    Oklahoma lawmaker vows to halt Superhighway at state line The expressed intention of a state lawmaker in Oklahoma to halt any NAFTA Superhighway project at his state line has failed to draw a meaningful response from the White House.    Finding Safe Toys Many parents spooked by the recent recalls of millions of unsafe toys made in China are seeking American-made toys for their kids, but they're not always easy to find.    Once Again We’re Driving What’s Not Made Here The foreign companies against whom the Big Three compete are selling more and more cars that are not made at their factories in the United States, making labor costs here less important.    Series of Town Hall Meetings on Manufacturing Issues On September 25th in Manchester, New Hampshire, television and film star John Ratzenberger and the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) will kick off a series of "Keep it Made in America" town hall meetings.    Building consensus "Without manufacturing in the United States, we won’t have a vibrant economy, we won’t have a middle class and we won’t be able to support our Army. If we don’t teach our kids to build things, America will go by the wayside," John Ratzenberger said.    Ahead of the Bell: Food Imports Consumer advocates and grocery industry representatives are expected to ask Congress Tuesday to set aside more funding for food safety.    600,000 products included in toy recall Lead concerns have prompted more than 600,000 toys and children's necklaces that were made in China to be removed from store shelves, Thursday morning.    The Piper Is At The Door - And So Is The Landlord Now that all the enthusiastic partying over that 300 point increase in the Dow has ended, it's time to get back to reality as most of the world sees it.    Safe Children v. Free Trade Accords Lori Wallach, executive director of the D.C.-based advocacy group Public Citizen, testified to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee that while U.S. law enforcement is part of the problem the "root cause is U.S. trade policies."    Why 'Made in China' became a peril for American parents The recent rash of recalls of Chinese-manufactured toys decorated with lead paint is fueling queries to health professionals around the country as parents wonder about possible elevated lead levels in their children.    U.S. says 1 million Chinese-made cribs recalled Simplicity Inc, a supplier of baby furniture to Wal-Mart Stores Inc and other big retailers, is recalling about 1 million Chinese-made baby cribs that have been linked to at least two infant deaths, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Friday.    What the heck is made in America anymore? (And what is not made in America)    Keeping our food imports safe The administration's report avoids the third rail in import safety - the link between unsafe imports and slipshod trade policy," Senator Sherrod Brown said in a statement.    Patriotic purchasing Roger Simmermaker, author of "How Americans Can Buy American," said U.S.-made products aren't always more expensive. For example, a Chinese-made shoe from Nike would likely be in the same price range as an American-made shoe from New Balance, he said. But Nike would probably be making much more profit.    Hoover Celebrates 100 Years As North Canton, Ohio Plant To Close The plant is scheduled to close this month, ending its legacy as the city's largest private employer and putting 750 people out of work. Hoover now is owned by Techtronic Industries of Hong Kong.    Want to buy American tuna? Visit www.AmericanTuna.com! You can buy it at www.heritagefoodsusa.com if you don’t have a store that sells it near you.    Most Want Import Restrictions Most Ohio voters support restrictions on imported products, even if it leads to higher prices for foreign consumer goods.    Importer to recall Chinese-made car fuses As many as 295,000 sets of cars fuses, each containing 120 fuses, are being recalled because some of them allow more electrical current through than they should, according to a newspaper report.    Mattel recalls more toys Mattel announced late yesterday it was recalling 800,000 toys, including 675,000 accessories for one of the company's biggest sellers, the Barbie doll.    Taiwan's Acer to Acquire Gateway Acer Inc. plans to acquire U.S. computer maker Gateway Inc. in a deal that will push the Taiwanese company past China's Lenovo Group as the world's third largest vendor of personal computers.    Chinese industrial expansion threatened by global warming A recent study suggested that manufacturing a computer in Guangdong caused three times the carbon emissions of manufacturing it in America, because of poorer environmental standards in China.    Five years later, COOL still open to debate In 2002 the U.S. Congress passed country of origin labeling (COOL) as part of the Farm Bill. Now, here it is five years later, and COOL has still not been implemented - although it is getting much closer.    Groups Sue to Block Mexican Trucks from U.S. Highways On Aug. 6, the Department of Transportation Inspector General released a report finding that the system used to monitor Mexico-domiciled carrier drivers with license convictions is not yet adequate.    Toys `R' Us Recalls 27,000 Crayon Boxes After Lead Is Found Toys `R' Us has recalled 27,000 crayon and paint box sets made in China because ink on the wooden cases contains lead.    'Made in America' films at Maytag The show's producers chose Maytag for the segment because it's an iconic name and it's made in America, Ratzenberger said.    Melamine Found in Chinese-Made Walmart Dog Treats Remember the dog treats that Walmart quietly pulled from its shelves instead of recalling? Walmart's own tests have shown they were tainted with melamine, the same chemical that killed all those pets back in March. Fun.    More Toys Recalled for Lead Can't we just go one week without a recall of dangerous toys from China? Guess not: Some Sponge Bob items and another toy train is on the recall list.    Buy American, support country, stay healthy Our participation in the global economy has to take a back-seat to our having a strong domestic economy.    Poison PJs from China - Embalming fluid found inside children's pajamas Scientists found formaldehyde, a chemical preservative, in wool and cotton clothing at levels hundreds of times higher than levels considered safe.    Toy makers must deal with stigma of 'Made in China' Gone are the days of squeezing every last penny out of an operation. What toy companies are saving won't matter if no one buys their playthings.    Made, badly, in China Here's the truly dark side of the economic force known as globalization, where greed prevails above all.    Chinese Official: Recalls are 'trade protectionism' China’s quality watchdog chief Li Changjiang says "Demonizing Chinese products or talking of the Chinese product threat, I think, is simply a new kind of trade protectionism."    China TV Airs Shows Defending Products China has launched a new campaign to restore international trust in its products with a weeklong television series defending the country's safety standards.    Claims Chinese clothes show formaldehyde A New Zealand television program has reportedly found levels of formaldehyde in Chinese-made clothing up to 900 times the level known to affect humans.    Toy scare may bring back ‘Made in USA’ As American toymakers and sellers prepare for the upcoming Christmas holiday season, they are facing a China syndrome in toy making that may not disappear anytime soon.    Toymakers ballyhoo 'Made in America' Next to "Merry Christmas," here's the greeting toy shoppers are most likely to hear and see this holiday season: "Made in America."    Where did that food come from? Your guess is as good as the label Without knowing where the food came from, consumers can't be certain it is safe, experts say.    More food imports from Mexico, not China, turned away In past year, inspectors found salmonella, other defects in goods entering the U.S.    China said to have known about magnets last March China knew about problems with magnets on toys as long ago as March, an industry official said Wednesday, after a second massive recall of Chinese-made Mattel product due to hazards from small magnets.    Knockoff diabetes tests? Yep, China Last year Johnson & Johnson discovered counterfeit strips used to test blood glucose levels were being sold under its label. Looks like we can add those to the long list of fake products originating in China.    Mattel recall suits a risk: experts Mattel Inc., the largest U.S. toy company, not only has a huge image problem but could face a series of lawsuits after two major recalls in a month, legal and public relations experts said on Tuesday.    Mattel: 9M more Chinese-made toys recalled The recall affects 9.58 million imported toys sold at toy stores, discount stores and other retailers nationwide dating back as far back as May 2003. Retailers started pulling the products off shelves.    NAFTA Superhighway traffic tied to bridge collapse WND has unearthed a Federal Highway Administration report dating back to 1998 that warned increasing NAFTA truck traffic was expected to create a safety concern with bridges in states along the I-35 NAFTA Superhighway, including Minnesota.    Democrats’ Third Rail: Free Trade So, with the exception of Representative Dennis Kucinich, who announced Tuesday night, to ringing applause, that during his first week in office as president he would withdraw from Nafta and the World Trade Organization, the rest of the Democrats at the A.F.L.-C.I.O. forum were more cautious. When asked whether, for all of their Nafta-bashing, they would pull the United States out of the trade pact, they quickly veered to vague talk about stronger worker protections.    U.S. may restore sock trade safeguards Socks imported from Honduras are up 60 percent in the first five months of this year compared to the same time in 2006. Meanwhile, domestic production has plummeted by more than 20 percent, eliminating jobs along the way.    Buick, Lexus Tie Atop Power Survey That another manufacturer might eventually clip Lexus' lead was not entirely unforeseen, but few would have expected the challenger to be Buick, the long-ailing mid-luxury brand of General Motors.    255,000 Chinese-Made Tires Recalled A tire importer said Thursday it would recall 255,000 Chinese-made tires it claims were defective because they lack a safety feature that prevents tread separation. The recall applies to Westlake, Compass and YKS brand tires.    China threatens 'nuclear option' of dollar sales Two officials at leading Communist Party bodies have given interviews in recent days warning that Beijing may use its $1.33 trillion of foreign reserves as a political weapon to counter pressure from the US Congress.    'Made in China' - Let the buyer beware? Chinese dealings leaves importer out a half-million dollars.    Mattel recalls 1.5M Fisher-Price toys 81 toys are listed from Mattel’s website that could contain excess levels of lead paint.    Ford Motors Reports $750 Million Profit Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally said the results are proof that an overall cost-reduction plan is working, but warned that the second half of this year will be difficult.    R-CALF: Anti-COOL Amendment Designed To Deceive Consumers Opponents of the 2002 country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law are pulling out all the stops trying to convince Congress to amend the law to allow meat from imported cattle that are fed in the U.S. for any length of time to be classified as USA product.    Hawaii Becomes Third State to Enact Legislation on Trade to Safeguard State Legislative Authority The legislation gives the Hawaii the authority to approve or reject any requests from the federal government that would bind the state to conform its state procurement policies to future trade agreements.    Company to pay $500,000 in military flag-patch case A Pennsylvania business will pay $500,000 for lying about where American flag patches it was selling to the military were manufactured.    Poll: 92 percent want 'country of origin' labels Finally, it looks like we’re going to get this bill enacted! I doubt the Republicans can throw wrenches into the plans again to stop COOL legislation this time around!    Americans fly the flag for July 4, as long as it’s not made in China The state of Minnesota requires all US flags sold in the state to be of American manufacture. Violations of the law will be punished by a $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail.    China-made Chryslers to reach U.S. by 2010 "I would say there are endless possibilities," said Chrysler Group Chief Executive Tom LaSorda.    South Carolina shrimpers may gain from worries over Chinese seafood The federal Food and Drug Administration announced last week that imports of several types of Chinese seafood will be blocked at the border until tests show they are not contaminated with unapproved drugs.    Labels Lack Food’s Origin Despite Law Now, with mounting questions about the safety of food imported from China, proponents of the labeling law say they believe that they finally have momentum on their side.    Do you consider products of the USA a badge of honor? Join A&W Restaurant’s campaign and show your support for 100% All American Beef. Petitions will be delivered to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.    Chinese official decries U.S. ban on seafood The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday it would detain catfish, basa, dace, shrimp and eel after repeated testing turned up contamination with drugs unapproved in the United States for use in farmed seafood.    Something Fishy In Seafood From China Few Americans know it, but the United States imports more than 20 percent of its seafood from China. Testing over the last six years shows as much as 15 percent of that supply was contaminated with antibiotics.    Bush Losing `fast Track' Trade Powers Since 1975, only one other president, Bill Clinton, has been stripped of that trade promotion authority, designed to speed the reduction of trade barriers and open new markets with other countries. Bush won't get it back again, and the next president might not either.    Forget Hillary, TradeWatch's Lori Wallach For President We have now lost the ability to produce our essentials, must devalue our currency "in order to compete" with slave labor, and have given a Totalitarian communist-capitalist regime power over our future. Can you say stupid? Irresponsible? Traitor?    China swells U.S. trade deficit As the Independence Day holiday approaches, some farmers are protesting the fact that the U.S. has become a net importer of food and raising questions about U.S. trade policy, particularly with China, an increasing source of cheap food, feed ingredients, pharmaceuticals and other goods.    NAFTA superhighway ready to roll Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, has vetoed a series of bills passed by the Texas Legislature, clearing the way for the Texas Department of Transportation to begin construction on the four-football-fields-wide new Trans-Texas Corridor along Interstate 35 (TTC-35) from the Mexican border at Laredo north to the Oklahoma border south of Oklahoma City.    Chinese Tires Are Ordered Recalled Foreign Tire Sales says it does not have enough money to recall all 450,000 tires itself and might go belly up.    'Free trade' drives Mexicans north The Democratic Party leadership is stabbing its base in the back with secret "free trade" deals made behind closed doors with the White House.    Unions girding to fight for Alcatel-Lucent jobs The giant Paris-based Alcatel-Lucent informed nearly 500 employees earlier this week that it’s considering shuttering its Merrimack Valley facility, as part of an overall consolidation move in the wake of last year’s merger between the French Alcatel and Lucent.    South Korea warns union about striking free trade agreement The Korean Metal Workers' Union, the country's largest with 150,000 members, said it plans to walk off the job for five days in protest against the free trade deal.    The Trouble With Our Trade Treaties Prof. Robert Pastor, a principal architect of NAFTA under President Clinton, acknowledged in a 2002 essay that "illegal migration has increased.... NAFTA has been encouraging illegal migration, not reducing it."