Laws and Regulations on Foreign Trade - Essay Example

We have reached a stage when it is no longer possible to ask whether or not we should take part in globalization, but rather, what can we do to mitigate its possible risks (if any) and take advantage of its myriad benefits In the United States, however, especially during these times of recession, outsourcing has been a way out for companies to stay afloat. These companies want to take advantage of the cheap labor costs in the developing world, as well as the cheap resources. However, the problem is that the countries where these commodities and services are outsourced often do not have very stringent quality control standards.

Many of them do not comply with basic environmental guarantees and health rules. The United States has very stringent policies with regard to environmental and health protection. Care must be given that harmful chemicals are not used in the commodities so that they do not pollute the atmosphere or compromise the health of those who purchase the product. However, when the production of the commodities is done outside the United States, then a number of problems surface. The regulations tend to be more relaxed, and since the workers are being paid less, it is hard to impose quality control and ensure consistency of outcomes.

This paper will discuss two consequences of improper quality control standards that result from a lack of regulations. These are: environmental regulations, health regulations and labor regulations. The United States Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1970 and is responsible for setting and monitoring standards of pollution in both air and water, and hazardous wastes and chemicals. Its EPA regulations – regulations which ensure compliance with the set environmental standards and procedures laid down by law – see to it that corporations do not add to the pollution in the environment and do not cause a