15 March 2000
Text: Commerce Secretary Daley Sees Support for China Trade Status
(All former Commerce secretaries endorsed NTR with China) (1410) The Clinton Administration's efforts to persuade Congress to grant permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China is getting a bipartisan boost, says Commerce Secretary William Daley. All former U.S. Secretaries of Commerce, he announced March 15 at the National Press Club, "have endorsed NTR with China on a permanent basis." The Secretaries of State, Daley added, "did the same thing a few days ago. That makes this a truly bipartisan effort, as it should be." Daley, designated by the Clinton Administration to be "point man" in gaining Congressional support for permanent NTR for China, said there was no need to let a vote on the issue wait until the November elections. He reiterated the point the Clinton Administration expects the Senate and the House of Representatives to vote on the issue by Memorial Day in the United States (May 29). "Read the trade agreement we reached with China," he urged his audience. "We just released the text yesterday, and sent it to every member of Congress," Daley said. Conceding that it might "take a lawyer to understand the fine print," Daley maintained that "once people examine it, they will see it is a very positive deal for America." The Commerce Secretary said he hoped the debate leading to a "vote this spring," would be more than "the usual 'Inside-the-Beltway' fight about trade. Let's take it to a higher level," Daley urged. President Clinton, he said, "is doing that in his speeches and meetings with lawmakers. He has made this his top foreign policy issue. Vice President Gore will be very aggressive, also. And many of us in the Cabinet will be out there doing the same thing," Daley told his Washington audience. "Many Americans are with us," Daley said. Citing a poll showing Americans favor the trade deal with China "48 percent to 36 percent," Daley added, "I wish we had a majority, but look we're 12 points ahead, and gaining ground. "While we don't have the votes in pocket," he conceded, "I believe we will when the time comes. We are working very hard and will win this thing, one vote at a time." Following are the excerpts of Daley's remarks, as prepared for delivery: (begin excerpts) Remarks by Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley National Press Club March 15, 2000 Washington, DC One of the things Jack left out of his very kind introduction was the fact that I am also the longest serving Commerce Secretary this century -- all of 75 days. But I don't want to brag too much. The longest serving Commerce Secretary in history, was Herbert Hoover! I am delighted to be here today, and I thank you for inviting me. And to our listeners on NPR, and C-Span viewers, I thank you for tuning in. I am very big on public service and civic responsibility, as you will hear in a minute. I want to spend most of my time talking about Census 2000. And then, bring you up to date on President Clinton's effort to get the green light from Congress to bring China into the World Trade Organization.... Now, let me turn to China. First, I am pleased to announce that all former Commerce Secretaries have endorsed normal trade relations with China on a permanent basis. The former Secretaries of State did the same thing a few days ago. That makes this a truly bipartisan effort, as it should be. As you know, President Clinton sent legislation to Congress last week, and we expect to see action first in the Senate Finance Committee. And we expect a final vote, by Memorial Day. There is no reason to wait longer. Most of the arguments and facts are well known, and it doesn't do anyone any good to let this issue become embroiled in November election campaigns. So as we begin this legislative fight in earnest, I believe we need to think more about the big picture. Absolutely, the economics of this deal are very good for America. It's a no brainer. But don't take my word for it, read the trade agreement we reached with China. We just released the text yesterday, and sent it to every member of Congress. It may take a lawyer to understand the fine print. Once people examine it, they will see it is a very positive deal for America. It would open just about every market important to us: agriculture, telecommunications insurance, autos, you name it. All we have to do in exchange, is to make permanent the normal trade ties we've had with China for two decades -- instead of renewing them every year. But it goes far beyond that. This debate is not just about another trade deal. China is our most important relationship with a foreign nation, on all levels, strategic and economic. China is a rising world power, with a 3,000 year history, and a quarter of humanity living within its borders. After many years of slumber, China is opening up to the outside world. So it is not to be ignored. And in today's new global economy, we cannot ignore our role as a world leader. We don't want to go back to the old politics of trade, that threw up high tariff barriers as the way to deal with competition. It's a different world out there. The bottom line is this: how do we see ourselves as a nation in the early days of a new century? What kind of message would we be sending to the rest of the world if we walk away? That would be a very negative message, that America no longer wants to lead; that we fear a country that has an economy just one-tenth the size of ours; and that would be a very sad day for America. As President Clinton has said, we don't know what choices China will make about its economy or its political future. No one knows, not even the Chinese themselves. They too, are divided and debating this. But America has to be able to stand there and say, we took the steps to encourage them to go the right way. To do anything less would be irresponsible. So as we push forward, and move to a vote this spring, I hope we make this more than the usual Inside-the-Beltway fight about trade. Let's take it to a higher level. President Clinton is doing that in his speeches and meetings with lawmakers. He has made this his top foreign policy issue. Vice President Gore will be very aggressive, also. And many of us in the Cabinet will be out there doing the same thing. And to be credible with the American public, we'll be talking about the negatives of trade, not just the positives. Obviously, there can be down sides, and we should be talking about them, and developing better ways to fix them. Many Americans are with us. There was a recent poll showing Americans favor this deal with China 48 percent to 36 percent. I wish we had a majority, but look we're 12 points ahead, and gaining ground. While we don't have the votes in pocket, I believe we will when the time comes. We are working very hard and will win this thing, one vote at a time. Last night, President Clinton and I met again with a group of congressmen to hear their concerns. And it was a very productive session. We truly live in a new age. We are watching an old China wanting to become a new China. We are seeing the spread of new technologies like the Internet tear down borders, and bring people closer together. And I hope we see old trade politics give way to a new trade politics, that is more than about jobs and economics. I hope this will be a discussion of how we view ourselves as a nation. And I hope it's not just a story that the big papers cover. I hope it gets the intensity, and the depth that we are seeing with the Census story. Because in my opinion, after the presidential election, China will be this year's biggest news story. Thank you very much. (end excerpts) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
