This summer many parents in North America (and perhaps elsewhere as well) experienced considerable anxiety when they learned that certain children’s toys were unsafe. Problems with lead paint and with potentially detachable components that could lead to choking had been identified. Most of these products had apparently been imported from China. Mattel, one of the largest toymakers and distributors, recalled hundreds of these toys, and Walmart, one of the largest retailers in the world, offered to reimburse parents if the product was returned.

In the USA …