16 February 2000
Text: Rep. Philip Crane Feb. 16 Statement on China Trade Status
(Trade Subcommittee Chairman urges Normal Trade Relations) (480) Representative Philip Crane (Republican of Illinois), chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, urged fellow lawmakers to grant permanent Normal Trade Relations status to China in a February 16 hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee. "This is a deal that sells itself in every area," Crane said in a prepared statement. Crane said the agreement reached between the United States and China in November of last year "is as good for workers in downtown Chicago as it is for peasant farmers in Chengdu." While acknowledging there are outstanding issues, such as fertilizer, which are of especial concern to producers in his district, Crane said, "I am committed to working with the President to achieve permanent NTR for China." Following is the text of Crane's remarks: (begin text) Opening Statement of Trade Subcommittee Chairman Crane House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on U.S.-China Bilateral Trade Agreement February 16, 2000 Thank you Mr. Chairman. I will only add that Ambassador Barshefsky has brought home a terrific agreement, in spite of the fact that the President directed her to negotiate the deal twice, once in April, then again in November in the midst of preparations for the Seattle WTO meeting. The fact that she could put the pieces back together again after the White House sent Zhu Rongji home empty-handed in April is a tribute to her skill. At the same time it reflects the fact that reformist elements of the Chinese government are strong in their resolve to turn China in the direction of free market reform. A deal that is as good for workers in downtown Chicago as it is for peasant farmers in Chengdu is a compact that will bring this planet closer together in the common pursuit of expanding commerce and lifetime economic opportunities. As we will see today, and as the CRS report shows, this is a deal that sells itself in every area. In one sector after another, there is no question that United States workers and Chinese citizens will be better off if Congress passes PNTR and puts these unilateral concessions in place. In exchange for steep tariff reductions and whole-scale reforms of the Chinese trading system, the United States gives up nothing. I urge the Administration and China to tie up the multilateral aspects of this important negotiation as soon as possible. There are areas such as fertilizer, produced in my district, where we need further progress so that the concessions that were advertised truly result in real market access. At that point, I am committed to working with the President to achieve permanent NTR for China. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)
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