Half of China's toy factories close

[katty]

more: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/markets/china/article5697090.ece

Jane Macartney in Beijing

Nearly half of China's toy factories closed last year as the financial crisis tightened its grip.

The country started the year with 8,610 factories producing and exporting 70 per cent of all the world's toys. By the end of 2008, only 4,388 remained — a decline of 49 per cent, figures from the customs office showed. The blow has been particularly hard-felt in the southern province of Guangdong, which borders Hong Kong, and which is responsible for producing the majority of the toys made in China.

The plight of China's toy industry has been exacerbated by a recent decision by India to impose a six-month ban on imports on the grounds of health and safety. That drew an angry response yesterday from Beijing, which warned Delhi that the action could harm ties between the neighbours.

[derby378]

1. American toy makers, do your thing!

:bounce:

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Having seen all the factories that were closed & sent to china,

this really breaks my heart (not).

[MrPerson]

3. Get your kid a gun for Christmas - Made in the USA

[Skwmom]

4. So India took measures to protect the children of India.

Remind me of what our govt did to protect the children of America?

[Orrex]

5. Don't you know anything?

Remind me of what our govt did to protect the children of America?

Duh. We invaded Iraq so that we don't have to fight them here, and because we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.

[Barack_America]

6. What? You mean that people aren't interested in unsafe, lead-painted toys?

My God, where will the "financial downturn" strike next?

:eyes:

The toys were crap and toxic. People would've stopped buying them even if we were in the midst of a financial boom.

Just the inevitable demise of another poorly regulated and unscrupulous industry. (yeah financial industry, I'm looking at you too)

[DJ13]

7. Since executives get the death sentence for poisoning products

I bet most of those closed out of fear that the government might discover they were using unsafe materials.

[salguine]

8. This is going to sound completely insane at first, but bear with me...

what if we tried manufacturing toys right here, at home, in the USA?

Just take a minute and let the idea marinate for a bit.

[8 track mind]

9. why, why, by gosh it just might work......

And...... and ...... we could employ.......American People!!!!


Salguine, i think you're really on to something here!!!!




:sarcasm:

[salguine]

10. I know. maybe I'll run in 2012.

[Phred42]

11. Bullshit - Was it the Financial Crisis or that they can't sell Lead in teh toys anymore?

[TommyO]

12. Did they ship all of their lead to the remaining factories?