DATE=4/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA TRADE (L)
NUMBER=2-260975
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton has welcomed the decision by
House Speaker Dennis Hastert to schedule a decisive
vote on the U-S/China trade agreement for the week of
May 22nd. Mr. Clinton is promising an all-out effort
to persuade reluctant members of his own Democratic
party to support the controversial measure. V-O-A's
David Gollust reports from the White House.
TEXT: The President is in an unusual alliance with the
Republican leadership in Congress in supporting the
trade bill, which would give China permanent, normal,
U-S trade status and help clear the way for Chinese
membership in the World Trade Organization.
Many Democrats argue that by giving up what has been
an annual congressional review on China trade, the
United States will lose leverage in influencing - for
the better - Chinese human rights practices.
But in welcoming Speaker Hastert's announcement at an
economic conference here, Mr. Clinton insisted the
sweeping tariff cuts China will have to make will have
the effect of reducing the Communist party's grip on
everyday life:
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
It also slashes those tariffs that protect the
state-run industries in China, which in large
measure have been the instrument of single-party
control there. So I think it will lead to an
opening of the society and a rise of freedom and
personal choice.
/// END ACT ///
The president - who also said the trade deal will
accelerate the growth of Internet use in China -
called its approval a "profoundly-important" U-S
national security interest and said he would do
everything he can to get it through Congress.
Passage of the measure is considered certain in the
Senate. But its fate is unclear in the House of
Representatives, and the president has been having
almost-daily meetings and telephone talks with
undecided House Democrats to enlist their support.
The White House had wanted an early House vote,
fearing that support for the trade bill would erode
with the approach of the November elections.
Organized labor, which gives the Democrats vital
campaign support, strongly opposes the agreement on
grounds it would trigger an exodus of U-S
manufacturing jobs to low-wage factories in China.
(Signed)
NEB/DAG/gm
05-Apr-2000 12:47 PM EDT (05-Apr-2000 1647 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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