DATE=4/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260905
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT
INTRO: President Clinton was in California's high-
tech "Silicon Valley" Monday campaigning for
congressional approval of legislation extending
permanent normal trade status to China. Republican
congressional leaders - who support the President on
the issue - have agreed to bring the measure to a vote
by the end of next month. V-O-A's David Gollust
reports from the White House.
TEXT: Mr. Clinton is at odds with the Republican
leadership on most issues in this election year. But
they have found a common cause on the China trade
measure, which both say is key to extending the U-S
economic boom.
China agreed to wide-ranging market-opening measures
in the bilateral trade deal, which was concluded late
last year as a condition for Chinese entry into the
World Trade Organization.
The legislation appears assured of Senate approval.
But its fate is unclear in the House, where members of
the president's Democratic party fear it will lead to
an exodus of U-S manufacturing jobs to low-wage
factories in China.
Analysts in both parties believe chances for House
approval will diminish with the approach of the
November elections. And Mr. Clinton got a boost Monday
with a commitment by House Majority Leader Dick Armey
to bring the measure to a vote by the end of next
month:
/// ARMEY ACTUALITY ///
When we have this most important vote of the
summer, sometime before the end of May, we want
each and every member of Congress to vote for
jobs for American workers, markets for American
products, a greater more vast world economy
within which we can export our products. This is
so critically important to us in terms of
maintaining this large productive economy that
we have.
/// END ACT ///
As Mr. Armey spoke, the President was making a similar
appeal to business leaders in San Jose, California,
the heart of high-tech "Silicon Valley." Mr. Clinton
lamented that trade legislation has become a
"lightning rod" for dissatisfaction and fear about
globalization, and suggested that many opponents of
the China bill are unaware how favorable its terms are
to the United States.
He reiterated his stand that opening China to the
Internet and other aspects of free trade will
liberalize Chinese society and ease the grip of the
Communist Party. And he warned that voting down the
trade measure will cost the United States both in
terms of trade and in its ability to influence Chinese
policy.
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
The main consequence of this will be to hurt
America economically and to dramatically strain
our relations with China at a time when we need
to maintain a positive ability to impact their
conduct: to reduce strains along the Taiwan
strait and to get the leaders in that country to
imagine the greatness of their country in future
terms, not yesterday's terms.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Clinton released letters from 40 state governors
and some 200 high-tech industry leaders supporting the
trade bill, which would end year-by-year Congressional
reviews of China's trade status.
Opponents say giving up the annual trade debate will
cost the United States leverage over Chinese human
rights practices, though Mr. Clinton told the San Jose
audience it will not affect U-S persistence on the
issue. (Signed)
NEB/DAG/TVM/gm
03-Apr-2000 17:19 PM EDT (03-Apr-2000 2119 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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