China Going Out

The two cases of lead poisoning and a case of cadmium poisoningin China this month alarmed us the use of toxic metals in the consumer products. However, enforcement of domestic regulations may not stop the accidents from happening in other parts of the world if we cannot trace back the source of minerals from the end of the supply chain.

The many problems associated with Chinese companies in Africa should not be seen in isolation from the broader challenge of dealing with the consequences of neoliberal globalisation, which places economic growth above all social considerations.