From toxic toys to noxious nightwear, the list of items recalled in China keeps growing. The latest additions include SpongeBob SquarePants journals, dog treats and disposable chopsticks, giving pause for thought to parents, pet lovers and takeaway gourmands – in short, pretty much le tout US population.

China’s economy, by contrast, can take it on the chin. So far, according to a local press report, the official tally of items directly affected by recalls stands at $700m. That is less than 0.1 per cent of last year’s exports and an even tinier fraction of this year’s forecast $1,200bn. Toys, the main segment affected, accounts for a mere 1-2 per cent of China’s exports. Besides, even if Americans wanted to ban all Chinese-made toys, it would be extremely difficult to replicate a similar-sized industry at home or anywhere else: the Chinese mainland accounts for 80 per cent of their children’s playthings.