DATE=3/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - CHINA - WTO (L-ONITER)
NUMBER=2-259947
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
// Clinton speech skedded 3:30pm est Wednesday //
INTRO: President Clinton will send Congress
legislation granting China permanent normal trade
relations and will use a Washington speech Wednesday
to urge lawmakers to approve the measure soon. On
the eve of the address, Mr. Clinton invited Senate
leaders to the White House to make a personal appeal.
VOA Correspondent Deborah Tate reports.
Text: Mr. Clinton told the bipartisan group of
Senators Tuesday night that the vote to extend normal
trade relations to China on a permanent basis would be
the most important one they would cast this year, and
that the action would have an impact on the United
States for years to come.
But the administration has faced an uphill battle to
win support for permanent normal trade ties for China
- a condition for Beijing's accession to the World
Trade Organization.
Under a deal reached last November, Beijing agreed to
open more of its markets to foreign goods in exchange
for Washington agreeing to support China's entry into
the WTO.
Some of the strongest opposition has come from
lawmakers of Mr. Clinton's own Democratic party - who,
backed by their influential labor union allies -
believe the trade deal would lead to a loss of US
jobs to China, where wages are lower.
Other lawmakers have been reluctant to back the deal
because of China's questionable human rights record
and its recent threats to use force if necessary to
achieve reunification with Taiwan.
But Mr. Clinton has argued that more trade with China
would mean more US jobs, and would also encourage
reform in China and promote regional stability.
It appeared the President got his message across. In
a rare show of unity, Republican Majority Leader Trent
Lott and Democratic Minority Leader Tom Daschle
emerged from the White House meeting in full
agreement.
// Lott actuality //
People say what about human rights violations?
What about their closed society? I say this is
the way to open it up. If you open up
telecommunications in China - the President made
some points about the number of Chinese now that
are getting on the internet and it will grow
dramatically in the next few years, if we can
sell more of our American agriculture products
and they can have a better standard of living,
that will be good for America and it will good
for China, it will change them irreversibly.
// Daschle actuality //
Senator Lott is absolutely right. This is not a
vote to punish or reward China. This is a vote
to ensure that we have more jobs, more
agriculture, more technology, more business
going to China, and there is no other way to do
it than to make sure this vote is a successful
one when it comes before the Senate and the
House.
// end act //
Mr. Clinton wants Congressional approval of permanent
normal trade status for China by June to avoid having
the issue become politicized in the run-up to
November's general elections.
Mr. Lott vowed to seek vote in what he called "a
reasonable period of time." (Signed)
NEB/DAT/PT
07-Mar-2000 21:02 PM EDT (08-Mar-2000 0202 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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