30 March 2000
Text: House Democratic Whip Challenges White House on NTR for China
(Rep. David Bonior March 30 news conference on China) (1160) The second ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives says now is not the time to extend permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China. Representative David Bonior (Democrat of Michigan) made that pronouncement in a March 30 statement at a Washington, D.C. press conference where he released a letter to President Clinton urging him not to grant NTR to China. Twenty-five members of Congress signed the letter, including 18 who in the past had supported annual Most Favored Nation (MFN) status China. MFN was the term used in the past to denote NTR. "They're part of a growing movement of legislators who are standing up to say we must not give up the leverage that the annual review of MFN provides," Bonior said in his prepared statement. "Could there be a time when it's appropriate to grant permanent MFN to China," Bonior asked, "I think there could be -- but I also know that time is not now." In the March 30 letter to President Clinton, the 25 lawmakers told the President they were opposed "to granting the People's Republic of China permanent Normal Trading Relations trade status. We are all at this moment united in our opposition to extending permanent NTR to China," the lawmakers said. "There must be an immediate and permanent stop to China's role in the proliferation of missile and nuclear technology to Iraq, North Korea and other rogue nations," the lawmakers said. "We cannot at this time support the granting of permanent NTR status for China," they said. Following are the texts of Bonior's press statement and the letter to the White House: (begin statement) Statement by House Democratic Whip David E. Bonior on Release of Letter Signed by Members Opposing Permanent Most-favored Nation Status with China March 30, 2000 Today, we're announcing the names of 19 members of Congress who supported granting MFN to China in the past, but who will not vote to grant permanent MFN to China this year. They're part of a growing movement of legislators who are standing up to say we must not give up the leverage that the annual review of MFN provides. That's what our opposition to permanent MFN is all about. We're not against trade with China. We believe in trade -- and the benefits it can bring the American economy. But we also believe in human rights. We believe in environmental protection. We believe in the responsible use of nuclear technology- We believe there cannot be free trade unless there is political freedom, as well. We oppose permanent MFN because, in this global economy, we believe nations should first live up to the trade agreements they've already signed before they enter into new ones, And we oppose permanent MFN because America should not give up the leverage to help bring about democratic reforms. Could there be a time when it's appropriate to grant permanent MFN to China? I think there could be -- but I also know that time is not now. Not now while human rights activists, religious leaders and trade unionists are brutalized and imprisoned. Not now while the Chinese government exports weapons of war to North Korea and other rogue nations. Not now while China's leaders ignore the needs of our world's fragile environment. In the final analysis, we believe that freedom and democracy aren't by products of economic prosperity; they are a precondition for it. This is not the time to vote. This is not the time to give up our leverage once and for all. (end statement) (begin letter) March 30, 2000 The Honorable William J. Clinton President of the United States The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Clinton: We write to express our opposition, at this time, to granting the People's Republic of China (PRC) permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) trade status. While some of us have regularly voted in support of granting annual NTR for China, and some of us have not, we are all at this moment united in our opposition to extending PNTR to China. We strongly support your call to establish new international rules that put a human face on the global economy, As the industrialized world profits from expanded trade, we must also spread prosperity to the people of developing economics, including China. It is indeed in our interest to engage China and transition the largest nation on Earth to a peaceful, prosperous, and responsible member of the international community. However, given its poor record on human and worker rights, weapons proliferation, environmental protection, and trade, China must demonstrate visible progress in these crucial areas prior to gaining PNTR trade status. Unfortunately, the U.S.-China bilateral WTO accession agreement is silent on virtually all these vital matters. Since the U.S. market consumes more than one third of China's exports, common sense dictates that the terms of U.S. market access can greatly influence China's conduct on a range of vital issues. By granting PNTR to China, we would surrender our only effective economic and political leverage to effect positive change in China. We therefore believe it is in our national interest to retain the annual NTR review process and work with China to make measurable improvements on key areas of common concern., Specifically, prior to granting China PNTR trade status, we believe China should make concrete progress in a number of areas, including: Recognize basic human and workers rights: This includes granting freedom of association, the release of jailed democracy activists, freedom for exiled worker and human rights advocates to return to their homeland, and the end of further persecution of such citizens and religious minorities; -- Stop the proliferation of missile and nuclear technology and equipment: There must be an immediate and permanent stop to China's role in the proliferation of missile and nuclear technology to Iraq, North Korea and other rogue nations; -- Promote environmental conservation: This includes compliance with major multilateral environmental agreements to which most WTO members are signatories, such as the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species; and -- Comply with past and present international commitments: Given repeated violations of prior trade agreements, China must adhere to the rule of law and demonstrate that it is capable of honoring its commitments to WTO members. Furthermore, should china fail to meet its obligations, we should also insist on independent bilateral enforcement mechanisms, such as automatic tariffs or other trade sanctions. We stand committed to working with the Administration to achieve these goals. However, because the U.S.-China bilateral WTO accession agreement fails to address or make concrete progress in these areas, we cannot at this time support the granting of PNTR status for China. Sincerely, John P. Murtha Member of Congress David Wu Member of Congress (end letter) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State - www.usinfo.state.gov)
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