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DATE=6/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250197
TITLE=CHINA-NORMAL TRADE STATUS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS RENEWED FOR ONE YEAR CHINA'S 
"NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS" WITH THE UNITED STATES -- THE CATEGORY 
OF (TRADE) RELATIONS FORMERLY KNOWN AS "MOST FAVORED NATION" 
STATUS.  THE DECISION WILL STAND UNLESS CONGRESS ACTS TO OVERTURN
IT.  AS V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE
CHINA TRADE ISSUE COMES AT A TIME OF INCREASED TENSION BETWEEN 
WASHINGTON AND BEIJING.
TEXT:  IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT (TODAY/THURSDAY), THE PRESIDENT 
SAYS HE HAS DECIDED TO RENEW CHINA'S "NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS" 
STATUS, WHICH HAD BEEN DUE TO EXPIRE IN JULY.
MR. CLINTON SAYS NORMAL TRADE WITH CHINA IS GOOD FOR AMERICANS.  
HE POINTED TO AN INCREASE IN AMERICAN EXPORTS TO CHINA OVER THE 
PAST DECADE.  HIS STATEMENT SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE 
TO WORK STRONGLY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA, AND SAYS A POLICY OF 
WHAT HE CALLS "PRINCIPLED, PURPOSEFUL ENGAGEMENT" WILL HELP 
EFFORTS TO MOVE CHINA TOWARD GREATER FREEDOM AND OPEN-NESS.
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS CALLED FOR PERMANENT NORMAL 
TRADING STATUS WITH CHINA IN THE CONTEXT OF CHINA'S ENTRY INTO 
THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION -- THE W-T-O.
CHINA'S ENTRY INTO THE W-T-O HAS BEEN HELD UP BECAUSE OF 
DISAGREEMENTS WITH BEIJING (OVER THE TERMS OF ITS ENTRY).  TALKS 
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA ON THAT SUBJECT WERE AMONG 
THE CONTACTS BEIJING CALLED OFF AFTER THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE 
EMBASSY IN BELGRADE. 
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SET A GOAL OF BRINGING CHINA INTO THE 
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR -- PERHAPS 
BEFORE THE END OF SUMMER.
SOME ANALYSTS SAY WORSENED RELATIONS -- CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENTAL 
EMBASSY BOMBING AND CHINA'S REACTION TO IT, AS WELL AS CHARGES OF
CHINESE NUCLEAR ESPIONAGE AGAINST THE UNITED STATES -- HAVE MADE 
EARLY CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF CHINA'S 
W-T-O MEMBERSHIP ALL BUT UNATTAINABLE.
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S LATEST STATEMENT ON CHINESE TRADE SAYS HE IS 
DETERMINED TO PURSUE A CONGRESSIONAL AGREEMENT FOR CHINA TO HAVE 
PERMANENT NORMAL TRADING STATUS AND MEMBERSHIP IN THE W-T-O ON 
VIABLE COMMERCIAL TERMS.  HE SAYS THAT IS A MEANS OF OPENING AND 
REFORMING CHINA'S MARKETS, AND HOLDING CHINA TO THE RULES OF THE 
GLOBAL TRADING SYSTEM.   (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/PHW/WTW
03-Jun-99 4:09 PM EDT (2009 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.