By J.R. Labbe The Spider-Man T-shirt labels for the twins escaped close scrutiny until after the items were on the kitchen table, awaiting wrapping and bows. One hardly blinks these days at a "Made in China" or "Made in Japan" label. But "Made in Syria"? That'll draw you up short. "Made in Syria" - as in Axis of Evil Part Two. As in political and logistical ally to Hezbollah and other armed radical groups. As in state sponsor of terrorists. As in the target of Public Law No. 108-175, signed Dec. 12 by President Bush, to "prohibit United States businesses from investing or operating in Syria." Syria, exporter of toddlers' T-shirts with Spidey on the front. Apparently this shopper wasn't the only one who hadn't read the label until the purchase was final. Neither had Wal-Mart. "We were not aware that we were carrying the merchandise you mentioned with a label from Syria," said Melissa Berryhill, senior public relations manager in Wal-Mart's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. Although it is curious that Wal-Mart, which has been accused of making conscious political and moral statements through the merchandise it chooses not to carry - no handguns, no books with questionable content or jacket art, no CDs deemed offensive, no video games that are overly violent - wasn't aware that it sold products made in a country listed as a rogue nation by the State Department. Wal-Mart didn't break any laws in buying Syrian-made T-shirts. Neither did any of the American companies along the product chain that leads from a comic book character's merchandising rights and licensing agreements to the Haddad manufacturing company. No statutes ban Syrian products from entering the United States. But with passage of the Syrian Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, that could change. Bush now has the authority to impose sanctions if Syria doesn't get right with the Western world. Those penalties include prohibiting export of U.S. products to Syria, barring U.S. businesses from investing or operating in Syria and banning aircraft owned or controlled by Syria from taking off from, landing in or flying over the United States. But Syria can still sell goods here. It's not as if Syria is a major U.S. trading partner. It ranks somewhere around 94th on the list. U.S.-Syrian trade totaled some $500 million in 2002 - a pittance, although U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil Corp. has joint ventures with Syrian firms, and ConcoPhilips has gas operations there. One Middle East expert says the threat of economic pressure is unlikely to change hearts or minds. "Syria, which has extensive trade ties with Europe, is set to become an EU partner in 2010," Murhaf Jouejati, adjunct professor at George Washington University and adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute, testified July 9 before the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Losing a Wal-Mart contract won't exactly paralyze the nation - not as long as the Germans and the French have money to spend. Wal-Mart's Web site lists its supplier standards for ensuring that companies with which it does business comply with labor, compensation, health, safety and environmental laws. The company has a compliance office in Dubai, which one supposes would be responsible for checking up on Middle Eastern contractors and subcontractors. Guess the Haddad company does OK when it comes to accessible restrooms and no forced labor.