Around 80 types of toys that have been sold in the United States since May have been recalled including the popular Big Bird, Elmo, and Dora the Explorer characters

China has temporarily suspended exports by two toy manufacturers that were the subject of product recalls in the United States.

China's top product safety agency, the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said in a statement Thursday that the companies were being asked to correct problems.

Both companies have been the subject of large-scale recalls of toys found to be contaminated with lead paint.

Lee Der Industrial Company, Limited made nearly one million toys that were recalled last week by Mattel and sold under the Fisher-Price brand. Hansheng Wood Products manufactured 1.5 million wooden toy trains, which were recalled by RC2 Corporation in June.

Also Thursday, a New Jersey-based tire importer recalled 255,000 Chinese-made tires. Foreign Tire Sales said the tires lacked gum strips, an important safety feature that prevents the treads from separating from the tire.

In June, the U.S. government ordered FTS to recall 450,000 tires produced by the same manufacturer, Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company.

The tires have been linked to at least two traffic fatalities in the United States.

After the June recall, Hangzhou Zhongce said FTS only made the claims because it is being sued.

China has blacklisted more than 400 companies for violating trade rules, following growing concern about the safety of Chinese-made goods.