The China Price: How Do They Get It So Low?

Just in time for the Beijing Olympics, a new book, The China Price, investigates why Chinese goods seem to always have the best price. Former Financial Times correspondent, Alexandra Harney, follows several Chinese items from factory to store shelf to find out just how they have garnered such a steep competitive advantage. Harney highlights the state of OSH in the world's fastest growing economy, and it's not pretty. The book's cover also features one of the more ironic pictures I've ever seen, a Chinese woman sewing an American flag.

Newindpress.com's Samrat Chaudry offers a more comprehensive review of the book.

Fumed Silica Plants on the Rise in China

Global demand for manufactured silica products is increasing rapidly with many new plants being constructed throughout the world. According to the Boston Business Journal, the Cabot Corp. is planning to build a new plant in Tianjin, China. With so many recent news items on the occupational health issues surrounding silica production, these new development projects are definitely something to keep an eye on.

Chinese Demand for PPE is Surging

Few countries have seen as much growth in manufacturing over the past decade than China. As a result, China is witnessing a big surge in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE). This is leading to a huge influx of foreign PPE companies. While it is not yet known whether or not the new equipment will be more easily accessible to China's labor force, analysts are predicting that the new equipment will be of a higher quality (source: Occupational Health and Safety).

As Promised...New Drug-resistant TB on the Rise

XDR, a new drug-resistant form of TB is creating a scare in the U.S. According to this Sunday San Jose Mercury News article, Mexico, China, India, Vietnam and the Philippines are the sources of most new TB-cases in foreign-born people in California. If the number of cases continue to increase, officials say that they may implement quarantine measures not seen in th U.S. in 70 years.