DATE=7/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251326
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA TRADE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA'S CRITICS IN THE U-S CONGRESS ARE GEARING UP FOR
ANOTHER BIG BATTLE ON TRADE. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE ISSUE LATER
THIS MONTH.
TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON TOLD CONGRESS IN EARLY JUNE THAT HE
WANTS TO EXTEND NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA FOR ONE MORE
YEAR. A COALITION OF CONGRESSMEN AND WOMEN HOPES TO OVERTURN
THAT DECISION.
"NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS" [OR N-T-R] IS THE NEW NAME FOR
MOST-FAVORED-NATION TRADE STATUS -- THE TARIFF TREATMENT THE
UNITED STATES ACCORDS MOST OF ITS TRADING PARTNERS.
THE NAME WAS CHANGED, IN PART, TO EASE A DISPUTE OVER TRADE WITH
CHINA THAT HAS RAGED IN WASHINGTON SINCE THE 1989 CHINESE
GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN ON PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATORS IN TIANANMEN
SQUARE. BUT THE CONTROVERSY IS AS STRONG AS EVER.
NEW ALLEGATIONS OF CHINESE SPYING AT U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS LABS
GAVE THE OPPOSITION A BOOST. CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER, A
CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN, SAYS PUBLIC OUTRAGE MAY MAKE A
DIFFERENCE..
/// ROHRABACHER ACT ///
WE NEED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED IN THE
PROCESS OF MAKING THIS DETERMINATION OF WHAT KIND OF
RELATIONSHIP WE ARE GOING TO HAVE WITH THIS COMMUNIST
DICTATORSHIP.
/// END ACT ///
THE OPPONENTS OF NORMAL TRADE WITH CHINA HAVE SOME IMPORTANT
ALLIES. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AMERICA IS STANDING WITH THEM, AS
ARE SOME OF THE LARGEST LABOR UNIONS IN THE COUNTRY. BUT
CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT NANCY PELOSI ACKNOWLEDGES MAJOR AMERICAN
CORPORATIONS WANT N-T-R, AND THEY ARE PUTTING PRESSURE ON MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS.
/// FIRST PELOSI ACT ///
AND I SAY TO THE PRESIDENT AND I SAY TO OUR COLLEAGUES
WHO MARCH IN LOCK-STEP WITH THE REGIME AND WITH THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, "YOU SAID THAT THIS INCREASED TRADE
WAS GOING TO IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA. ... YOU
SUBSCRIBED TO THE NOTION OF TRICKLE-DOWN LIBERTY [THAT
FREEDOM WILL COME GRADUALLY]. ... IT IS 10 YEARS LATER.
IT HASN'T HAPPENED!"
/// END ACT ///
MS. PELOSI SAYS SHE KNOWS CHINA'S CRITICS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
WIN ENOUGH VOTES TO OVERTURN THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION. BUT SHE
SAYS THE UPCOMING DEBATE IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT WILL SEND A
STRONG MESSAGE TO BEIJING AND THE WHITE HOUSE.
/// SECOND PELOSI ACT ///
THEY WILL RAISE AN ARMY AGAINST HUMAN-RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
IN EUROPE, AND THEY WILL NOT RAISE A TARIFF TO PROMOTE
DEMOCRATIC VALUES IN CHINA AND TIBET. SHAME ON US!
/// END ACT ///
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS TRADE IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF
ITS CHINA POLICY. CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORTERS SAY TRADE TIES OPEN
CHINA TO THE WORLD AND WILL ULTIMATELY HELP BRING CHANGE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PW/WTW
01-Jul-99 3:44 PM EDT (1944 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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