Does the US inspections process have a hope of keeping up w/ flow of foreign goods as staffed?

Question

"Trading volumes have increased so dramatically in recent years, he said, that workers responsible for inspections have had difficulty keeping up.

He points out that trade agreements signed since 1994 have increased the number of incoming shipping containers at the nation's ports from 1 million a year to more than 18 million today. During the same period, the number of federal inspectors responsible for ensuring the safety of imported goods has remained steady near 400."

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070824/BIZ/708240367

Doesn't it seem like someone neglected to think this through?

Answer 1

its not the first time that the leaders we have, dont consider all the parts of the equations. we do need to hire more inspectors regardless.

Answer 2

This is standard practice with the government nowadays. We are under this terror watch right. But the percentage of cargo containers actually checked or scanned at best is 5%. Bridges falling. How many potholes do you hit on your way to work,school or the store. I guess most politicians believe we all have unlimited tire fund. Our borders are open to anyone that wants to walk across. No child left behind. We pass a law that makes school administer test a certain way. Also some of the things you learn taught a different way. Also other activities which are social have changed. Doing all this has made school boards across the nation take on added budget items. But when we passed that law we forgot to add funding for these extra things. If you are looking for someone in government to look after you on some of these things then you are in trouble. They are basically making money on these. Besides you think Mattel wants it ship loads of toys from China held up in a port for a month. No they don't and neither do the politicians. They get donations from mattel. So Mattel has to be allowed to pass customs in a matter of minutes per cargo container. That way everyone is happy. mattel makes it money. The politicians get their donations. And the consumer and citizen get the shaft.

Answer 3

Yes, it does seem they neglected to think. I watched part of the testimony before Congress regarding the lack of personnel to inspect imported goods for safety. This is a result of a deplorable lack of foresight.
Chinese goods for decades have been regarded as suspect, yet they increased trade without increasing the inspection personnel.
A friend owns a small chain of supermarkets. He has 2 people in each to manage inventory and that doesn't mean having to inspect the goods, but just keep track and reorder.
But, they expect 400 people to inspect and track millions of containers? I worry what it will take to get the personnel increased to an effective number. Will it take the deaths of people instead of unfortunate pets? Pointing fingers now in Congress, but that doesn't resolve the problem. More manpower will, along with more circumspection in making trade agreements.

Answer 4

I just learn from a friend of a system that was put in place to check our mail to prevent terrorism. I don't think the government wants to make these system known because the terorist might find ways to circumvent it. It might be the same thing, but an automated system is not the same has having people there to actually check things. Frankly a machine is not as adaptive, and terrorist are extremely clever. The reason, is that if we slow down trade, things would become expensive and we would start complaining of our decaying standard of living. It isn't that they didn't think it through, it's that the government official silence all those who would bring up the issue.

Answer 5

Here's two more facts (off ABC/MSNBC--and PBS, if you want t dig up the stories).
>Under the Bush administration, the funding for inspections in this country have been cut to the point there is oene (count tem--ONE) inspector f toys coming from China
>China does not allow foreign inspection of its plants--and the Bush administration caved in on thispoint (why the Chinese want a lack of oversight isn't hard to figure out, but that's another issue).

Answer 6

Depend on yourself > read the labels> And buy made in the USA only>Or go with out >It's your safety> They will get the idea when the shelves are full and no1s buying>Come back to the USA and we will buy your product> Think safety first> Just think of the poisoned children in China that's making those lead products to send to our children and us>???

Answer 7

Oh DAR...This is where you and I kind of disagree. LOL...I think they thought ALL these things thru quite well.To benefit them and business.Since when have they truly cared if we get garbage sent here or things that will poison us? Keeps the fear factor up so we turn to them more and more.How many people even know these things are going on? I'll bet not 35% of the population.

BTW...I know we actually agree on this but I had to play with the question alittle. Sorry. LOL

Answer 8

No. It's one of the reasons I've pretty much stopped buying most imports.

Answer 9

We can not keep up now much less in a year or five years.