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
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