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DATE=4/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA TRADE ONITER (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-26187
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  Thousands of labor union members converge on 
Capitol Hill tomorrow (Wednesday) to urge Congress not 
to grant China permanent normal trade status.  The 
upgrade proposal, which would clear the way for China 
to join the World Trade Organization, is shaping up as 
one of the year's biggest political battles.  V-O-A's 
David Swan reports.
TEXT:  Though the decisive votes in the House and 
Senate are weeks away, the rhetoric over China's trade 
status is escalating fast.  The unions, which are 
leading the opposition, hope to bring 10-thousand 
people to rally on the Capitol grounds.
Among those addressing the crowd will be Chinese 
dissident Wei Jingsheng.  He told senators Tuesday 
that granting permanent normal trade relations would 
make China's bad human rights situation worse.  
Through an interpreter, Mr. Wei said the deal would 
not help Americans either.
            /// Wei Interpreter Act ///
      Many Americans believe that if they give China 
      the (membership in) the W-T-O, then they can 
      enter the Chinese market.  That is illusionary 
      (an illusion).
            /// End Act ///
The plan's supporters argue it could bring huge 
benefits to virtually every sector of the U-S economy.  
Commerce Secretary William Daley says Congress has 
little to lose by giving up its annual vote on normal 
trade relations with Beijing.
            /// Daley Act ///
      I don't believe there's much leverage left in 
      that annual review.  In 20 years, you have never 
      voted it down.  And to me, the cost of keeping 
      this leverage is losing the opportunity to open 
      China's market to U-S companies, U-S products, 
      even as our European and Asian competitors will 
      take advantage of that opportunity.
            /// End Act ///
While the Senate is considered all but certain to 
approve permanent normal trade relations for China, 
the situation in the House is far from clear.  
Republicans have repeatedly called on President 
Clinton to exert stronger leadership, especially with 
members of his own party, who lean against the plan.  
The crucial House vote is scheduled for late May (the 
week of May 22nd). (Signed)
NEB/DS/JP
11-Apr-2000 16:34 PM EDT (11-Apr-2000 2034 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.