A joint statement of intent was issued yesterday at the end of nearly a week of talks between the countries' product safety watchdogs.
It comes three weeks ahead of US President Barack Obama's inaugural China visit.
"A systematic improvement of practices in the supply and distribution chain will be the most effective means of enhancing product safety," it said.
The watchdogs will focus on improving the safety of toys, all-terrain vehicles, electrical products, lighters and fireworks.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission, led by chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum, and China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine also pledged to pursue "cooperative scientific and fact-based investigations" into Chinese plasterboard imports.
US homeowners have complained of physical illness and structural damage stemming from the plasterboard, which was imported during the housing boom and has made some homes uninhabitable.
"It is CPSC's and AQSIQ's intention to determine the cause of the reported problems, with the goal of ensuring that the problems do not recur," the statement said.
The reputation of China's poorly regulated and corruption-plagued manufacturing industry has been tarnished by safety scandals involving dangerous foods, toys and other products.
An investigation found nearly half of the clothing and a third of the furniture made for children in Guangdong were unsafe, with many products containing harmful chemicals, the China Daily reported in May.
It said just 53.5 percent of garments surveyed met safety standards, with many containing excess amounts of formaldehyde, a chemical that can cause skin or respiratory infections.
As for children's furniture, 67.7 percent of it was deemed safe.
The investigation found that 95 percent of the toys made in Guangdong were safe, the report said.
