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27 May 1999

TEXT: MAY 26 LETTER FROM LAWMAKERS TO CLINTON ON CHINA/WTO

(Bipartisan call for "time-out" on China's WTO bid)  (520)
Washington -- The Clinton Administration found its engagement policy
toward the People's Republic of China under bipartisan assault in a
letter from lawmakers to President Clinton May 26 calling for a
"time-out" in China's bid to gain accession to the World Trade
Organization (WTO).
Senator Jesse Helms (Republican of North Carolina), chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his House counterpart, Rep.
Benjamin Gilman (Republican of New York), chairman of the House
International Relations Committee sent the missive that expressed
their deep concern about negotiations regarding China's accession to
the WTO.
The Republicans were joined by Senator Russell Feingold (Democrat of
Wisconsin), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and
Rep. Tom Lantos (Democrat of California), House International
Relations Committee member.
The bipartisan open letter to Clinton urged that the United States
"take a step back," and reconsider the administration's current
approach to China.
The lawmakers said the de-linking of trade issues from other concerns
had not fostered "the deep, stable and meaningful relationship between
the United States and China that had been promised."
Following is the text of the letter:
(begin text)
Congress of the United States
Washington, DC 20515
May 26, 1999
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are deeply concerned about the continuing negotiations regarding
China's being admitted into the WTO. In light of current events, and,
specifically, the recent incidents in and by China, we are fully
convinced that the most responsible and appropriate step is to set
aside negotiations.
China's entrance into the WTO would have a permanent and significant
effect on the American economy, not to mention the flexibility of
future Administrations. Under present circumstances, the U.S. should
take a step back, reconsider the current approach to China and resume
negotiations only when they can be conducted without the overhang of
ancillary events.
Among the issues that must be addressed is the effectiveness of our
current terms of engagement with China. Recent newspaper editorials
across the political spectrum have suggested that the Chinese
government's sanctioning of the attacks on our embassy in Beijing, the
torching of the consulate, and the attacks on U.S. businesses
demonstrate clearly that our engagement policy and delinking trade
from other issues such as human rights have not fostered the deep,
stable and meaningful relationship between the United States and China
that had been promised.
Moreover, the Chinese government's allowance (and even encouragement)
of such unlawful activity against the United States emphasizes the
concerns many members of Congress have expressed about China's
willingness and ability to enforce the rule of law, including its WTO
commitments.
In short, we are persuaded that the United States will be well served
by such a "time-out." We look forward to working with you on this
issue in the future and to developing an appropriate policy toward
working with China.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
Jesse Helms
Russell Feingold
Benjamin Gilman
Tom Lantos
(end text)