DATE=3/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA TRADE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260526
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-S Senate is now debating what could be
its biggest foreign policy decision of the year --
whether to normalize trade relations with China once
and for all. Though Washington grants this status to
nearly all its trading partners, opponents of the plan
say China does not deserve it. V-O-A's David Swan
reports from Capitol Hill.
TEXT: The first votes on the matter are at least a
few weeks away. But the political battle lines are
already clearly drawn for Congress' most important
trade debate in years.
The White House and its allies are pushing permanent
normal trade relations for Beijing as part of the deal
to bring China into the World Trade Organization.
Supporters argue this will open China's huge market to
American business. Senate Finance Committee Chairman
William Roth, who introduced the measure (Thursday),
warns its defeat would hurt people in both countries.
/// Roth Act ///
The losers will be American firms, American
workers who will be denied the opportunity to
compete on a level playing field with their
British, French, German and Japanese
competitors. The losers will also include
Chinese workers.
/// End Act ///
The Senate, which tends to favor free trade, is
considered almost certain to pass the bill. But its
backers worry the Chinese government could hurt its
own cause by threatening Taiwan.
The outlook in the House of Representatives is far
from clear. There, the proposal is facing a
determined fight from labor unions and human rights
advocates. (Democratic) Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, a
long-time critic of China, says the country's record
on trade alone is reason to reject the bill.
/// Pelosi Act ///
And that speaks to their unreliability in
keeping their word, of the Chinese government in
keeping its word. It speaks to the broken
promises rather than performance over the last
decade in terms of violations of trade
agreements that they have -- that they have
signed.
/// End Act ///
The administration hopes the House and Senate will
vote on the plan no later than June to keep the issue
from being caught up in an intensifying campaign for
the November elections. (Signed)
NEB/DS/JP
23-Mar-2000 13:22 PM EDT (23-Mar-2000 1822 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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