DATE=12/14/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=CHINA / U-S TRADE (L ONLY) NUMBER=2-257129 BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON DATELINE=BEIJING CONTENT= INTRO: A key member of the U-S Senate Agriculture Committee says China can build support in Congress for permanent normal trading relations with Washington if it moves to buy U-S wheat and beef in the weeks ahead. VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison reports Congress is expected to vote next year on whether it should grant Beijing favorable access to U-S markets as part of a recently signed bilateral trade agreement that paves the way for China to join the World Trade Organization. TEXT: Democratic Senator Max Baucus - who represents the northwestern state of Montana - says he briefed a cross-section of Chinese officials, including Premier Zhu Rongji, on prospects for Congress' approval of the U-S-China trade deal during a two-day visit to Beijing. Until now, China's low tariff access to U-S markets has been subjected to yearly votes in Congress. The new deal requires Washington to make such access permanent. Mr. Baucus says he told the Chinese officials he met with that, before Congress considers granting China permanent normal trading status, as called for under the deal, Beijing should conclude bilateral negotiations with its other major trading partners, most notably, the European Union. But Mr. Baucus -a longtime supporter of permanent trade relations with China - also wants Beijing to improve its prospects for a favorable congressional vote by immediately implementing a separate bilateral agricultural agreement that was negotiated in April and signed two weeks ago. That accord - called the agricultural cooperative agreement - calls for Chinese purchases of wheat from the U-S Pacific Northwest, which includes Mr. Baucus' state of Montana. The senator says he is also looking for Chinese purchases of U-S beef, of which Montana is a major producer. /// BAUCUS ACTUALITY /// The United States Congress is going to be looking for comfort, and the nature of the relationship between our two countries will largely determine whether Congress votes for approval.And one key area the Congress will look at is ther agricultural cooperative agreement.and I made the point so clearly that I'm quite certain they got the message. /// END ACTUALITY /// Mr. Baucus says he supports the agreement because it will open Chinese markets to U-S goods and services. He says it will also force China to play by international trading rules and will strengthen the hand of economic reformers in the Chinese government. But he says approval of the pact is not guaranteed. /// BAUCUS ACTUALITY /// It will be difficult. It will require a very strong effort by the agriculture and business communities in the United States and a dedicated effort by the President personally.I don't think the Congress will be able to address this issue properly if the debate continues on into the summer. /// END ACTUALITY /// Mr. Baucus says he believes most lawmakers will not link allegations of Chinese espionage and such issues as human rights to their vote on the trade pact. (Signed) NEB/RW/KL 14-Dec-1999 08:06 AM EDT (14-Dec-1999 1306 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
