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DATE=6/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233237
TITLE=CONGRESS - CHINA TRADE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   PRESIDENT CLINTON IS EXPECTED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO RENEW
CHINA'S MOST-FAVORED NATION TRADE BENEFITS, SETTING UP AN ANNUAL 
SHOWDOWN WITH THE COUNTRY'S CRITICS IN CONGRESS.        V-O-A'S 
DAVID SWAN REPORTS, THE FIGHT MAY BE MORE HEATED THAN USUAL.
TEXT:   MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS MEANS CHINESE GOODS ENTER THE 
AMERICAN MARKET AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE TARIFFS.  THE SYSTEM 
APPLIES TO ALL BUT A HANDFUL OF COUNTRIES.  CHINA SAYS THE  
BENEFITS SHOULD BE PERMANENT.
BUT THIS YEAR'S M-F-N DEBATE COMES AT A TIME WHEN POLICY TOWARD 
BEIJING IS ALREADY A HIGHLY CHARGED SUBJECT ON CAPITOL HILL. 
REPUBLICANS ARE DEMANDING ANSWERS ABOUT MISSILE AND SATELLITE 
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO CHINA AND CHARGES THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS 
GAVE MONEY TO DEMOCRATS IN THE 1996 ELECTION.
ON THE EVE OF THE PRESIDENT'S LIKELY M-F-N DECISION, REPUBLICAN 
SENATORS DELIVERED A FAR-REACHING REQUEST FOR ADMINISTRATION 
DOCUMENTS ON THE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE.  MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT 
SAYS HIS COLLEAGUES ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER ASPECTS OF  
U-S / CHINESE RELATIONS.
                        /// LOTT ACT ///
         DO WE JUST TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE CONTINUED HUMAN 
         RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, THE RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION, THE TRADE 
         IMBALANCE AND THE WEAPONS SALES AND THE PROSPECT THAT 
         THERE WAS SOME - THE POSSIBILITY EVEN THAT THERE WAS A 
         PLAN TO BE INVOLVED IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS IN 1996? 
         THAT'S EXTREMELY ALARMING.
                         /// END ACT ///
BUT M-F-N ALSO HAS ITS SUPPORTERS.  DEMOCRATIC LEADER TOM DASCHLE
ARGUES THE NATION'S TRADE POLICY SHOULD NOT BE LINKED TO THE 
OTHER CONTROVERSIES.
                       /// DASCHLE ACT ///
         I THINK THAT'S A MISTAKE.  I THINK IT'S IN THE UNITED 
         STATES' BEST INTEREST TO EXTEND M-F-N.  FORGET ABOUT 
         CHINA - WHAT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST?  PASSAGE OF M-F-N 
         FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME IS CLEARLY IN OUR BEST 
         INTEREST.
                         /// END ACT ///
THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE UP AND VOTE ON M-F-N IN
THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.  A WIDE-RANGING PROBE OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
TRANSFERS HAS JUST BEGUN AND COULD TAKE A GOOD DEAL LONGER. 
(SIGNED)
NEB/DS/WDC/PT 
02-Jun-98 7:28 PM EDT (2328 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.