Sufficient exposure from regularly sucking or biting jewelry with high cadmium content can hinder brain development in children. Wal-Mart has pulled several jewelry items after reports indicated cadmium. Furthermore, H&M has taken action after some of its hand bags had been tested and came back positive for this type of metal. The concern is that the metal can rub off on hands and can get in the mouths of children. H&M will enforce higher lead standards in the future.

Import safety has become a greater priority for CBP following recent scares of tainted products from China and other countries. CBP and CPSC inspectors are co-located at several locations now, including at a container examination station near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

For more information about the American Shipper article.

On May 27, Canadian public safety minister, Peter Van Loan and U.S Secretary of homeland security,  Janet Napolitano met to discuss border relations between the two countries.

“We are committed to a collaborative approach to our border—one that enhances our security and public safety while facilitating the trade and travel that connects our two countries,” they said in a joint statement.

But, memories of 9/11 aren’t too far in the past for Americans. Last week. Jayson Ahern, acting commissioner for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced $12 million out of the $60 million allocated to improving border protection will be spent by increasing the number of agents stationed in the Northern states patrolling the U.S./Canadian border.

Currently, there are around 1,500 agents monitoring the Canadian border, this will increase to a little more than 1,800 by the end of this year and nearly 2,300 by the end of 2010.

Deborah Aarts, managing editor of MM&D magazine in Toronto, Ontario, Canada writes a strong opinion of  what she thinks is a mis-representation the U.S. has given in its cooperation to work together to secure and protect its border as well as continue open trade.

What I have a problem with is the one-sidedness of it all. The US agreed to work together with Canada on border issues, then promptly announced on its own its intent to ramp up security by 45 percent. The Canada Border Services Agency has voiced no similar plans. Even if the decision was made before the May 27 meeting, and even if Canada knew about it, the optics suggest that the two countries are not on the same page.

Although Ms. Aarts doesn’t speak for every Canadian, I’m sure more decisions and debates will arise as plans begin to be implemented.

To read more about the increase in U.S security, click here.

To read more about Deborah Aarts editoral, click here.