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Chinese PR Combats Export Rap

Enemies in Washington stymie effort to promote food products called unsafe

By Greg Atwan, Newser User

Posted Jun 30, 2007 11:05 AM CDT

(Newser) – China is on a public relations blitz to keep its exports solvent after nonstop coverage of unsafe toothpaste, fish and even tires in the US, China's largest customer, last week. Beijing broke its pattern of protest over the coverage, shutting down 180 offending factories and promising consumers that tainted food represents a fraction of US imports from China.

Major diplomats in Washington are also circulating pamphlets titled "Chinese Food Exports Are Safe." But the Journal reports they're encountering hostility from the US, at least partially because of China's intransigence over its devalued currency. More generally, the PR push represents an increased transparency from a government that would have kept silent 10 years ago.

In this photo released by China's official Xinhua news agency, people prepare to release an over three-meter-long Chinese sturgeon, which was miscaught and injured earlier, at the estuary of the Yangtze... (Associated Press)

A dead fish is seen next to the blue-green algae bloom affecting Lake Tai in Wuxi, eastern China's Jiangsu, Thursday, May 31, 2007. Wu Lihong had warned for years that pollution was strangling his beloved... (Associated Press)

Boxes of Tianqi Toothpaste are seen at a supermarket in Chengdu, in China's Sichuan province Tuesday, June 12 2007. China's Communist Party called Saturday, June 16, 2007, for timely tests and improved... (Associated Press)

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Chinese PR Combats Export Rap

Enemies in Washington stymie effort to promote food products called unsafe

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Toothpaste Scare Widens—Again

Tainted tubes from China turn up in Georgia prisons, hospitals

Trail of Chinese Chemicals Leads to Toothpaste

Governments on two continents investigate tainted product

Chinese Goods Flunk Gov't Safety Tests

Nearly 20% of domestic consumer products can't meet quality standards

China Closes 180 Food Plants

Dangerous chemicals added to products from candy to pickles; most not exported

Melamine Death Toll Passes 8,000 Pets

FDA says health risk for humans unlikely

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Chinese PR Combats Export Rap

Enemies in Washington stymie effort to promote food products called unsafe

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

China • food • health • toothpaste • fish • safety • contamination • public relations

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Toothpaste Scare Widens—Again

Tainted tubes from China turn up in Georgia prisons, hospitals

Trail of Chinese Chemicals Leads to Toothpaste

Governments on two continents investigate tainted product

Chinese Goods Flunk Gov't Safety Tests

Nearly 20% of domestic consumer products can't meet quality standards

China Closes 180 Food Plants

Dangerous chemicals added to products from candy to pickles; most not exported

Melamine Death Toll Passes 8,000 Pets

FDA says health risk for humans unlikely

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?