China strongly defended the quality of its exports today, saying some problems were a result of varying global product standards and that a mass recall of toys was largely a result of faulty US designs, not Chinese workmanship.

Mattel has extended its worldwide recalls of Chinese-made toys to more than 18.6 million, including popular Barbie and Polly Pocket, and warned that more could be ordered off store shelves because of lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed.