[quote=UCGal]You have to be careful about “slave labor” even on goods labeled “made in USA”. The Northern Marianas Islands have had some pretty bad sweatshop situations. That’s a US Territory and it products manufactured there can be labeled “made in the USA”. But employers there have held employees as indentured slaves while they work off their rent – even forcing abortions so that workers could stay productive. (google marianas sweatshop for more details.) This is a situation that elected officials from both parties kept hushed up.
From an environomental perspective – it makes sense to buy local – not just the same country, but the same region. The impact of shipping goods from distant locations is something to consider. (If you care about that stuff. Not everyone does.)
I will say – as a parent trying to find toys that aren’t made in China is HARD.
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I didn’t know that.
Actually, it’s getting harder to find books printed in america. The ink on some of the print is concerning me.
Most of my kid’s toys are/were my toys…back when they actually made toys to last from here. So my kid gets to play with my toys (I don’t like the modern toys anyway that beeps and bops)…my parents saved them up…all 6 boxes worth.
There is a list made in usa toys here that I found useful when sending gifts (unless parents explicitly tell me no more gifts).
Every toy goes through my lead paint test kit, regardless of origin.
Check your and your kid’s toothpaste too. If you ever noticed why some of the big brands (Crest and Colgate) have two products one that is cheaper ($1.5-$2) and the other like $2.5-$3.5 it’s because the former is no longer made here.
Oakley makes a toddler’s sunglasses for $60, which though considerably more expensive than your toddler sunglasses from Gymboree or Target (8x) is also higher quality. Something like this:
