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USIS Washington File

01 May 2000

Byliner: Secretary Albright on U.S.-China Trade Issues

(Op-ed from The Denver Post 5/1/00) (900)
(This column by Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright first
appeared in The Denver Post May 1 and is in the public domain. No
republication restrictions.)
A MORE OPEN CHINA MEANS A MORE SECURE AMERICA
By Madeleine K. Albright
U.S. Secretary of State
Congress will vote soon on whether to approve permanent normal trade
relations for China. A 'yes' vote is in the best economic interests of
Colorado and our country, likely to encourage greater openness in
China, and good for the security of the United States.
Here's why. 
Last fall, the Clinton administration agreed to support China's entry
into the World Trade Organization in return for China agreeing to
further open its markets and observe WTO rules. To secure the benefits
of this pact for America, Congress must approve relations and thereby
agree that we will trade with China as we do with virtually every
other country.
Economically, the benefits are clear. Normalizing trade relations
costs America nothing. Our markets are already open. But under the
agreement, when China joins the WTO, its tariffs on key U.S.
agriculture, chemical, manufacturing and information technology
products will start going down. Many will be slashed by 50 percent or
more. Some will vanish entirely.
The agreement also opens China's market to services such as
telecommunications, engineering and environmental help. This
translates into more income for Colorado workers, and more business
for Colorado firms, ranches and farms.
Even without the agreement, Colorado sales to China have skyrocketed
from $13 million in 1993 to more than 11 times that amount in 1998.
With the agreement, new sales to China can do much to sustain
America's record growth. What's more, China has agreed to
unprecedented protections for U.S. farmers, businesses and working
people against unfair dumping or import surges.
So economically, trade relations with China is a home run for America.
But there are foreign policy benefits, as well. Americans differ
sharply with China on human rights. The United States must, and will,
continue to press leaders in Beijing to respect the fundamental and
universally recognized rights of their citizens. President Clinton and
I have consistently raised our concerns in meetings with Chinese
officials.
The State Department reports annually and objectively on religious
freedom and other aspects of the human-rights situation in China. And
we sponsored a resolution at the recent U.N. Human Rights Commission
in Geneva that would have called upon China to comply with global
norms. We also see, however, that China is changing. Over the past
decade, its people have gained more and more control over their daily
lives. The role of government in this arena is diminishing, the result
primarily of economic reform. And when China joins the WTO, these
trends will accelerate. As a member of that organization, China will
have to play by international trading rules. It will have to open its
regulatory system to public scrutiny. And it will have to further
reduce the role of state-owned industries. This will help promote the
rule of law and develop a more open society.
It is no surprise that democratic leaders such as Martin Lee in Hong
Kong favor the trade pact. Its approval is also the right vote for our
national security. The more integrated China is into the world
economy, the more incentives it will have to deal peacefully with
Taiwan, to help preserve stability on the Korean Peninsula (where
37,000 U.S. troops are deployed), and to play a constructive role on
issues such as halting the spread of nuclear, chemical and biological
weapons, and curbing global climate change. Conversely, China could
interpret rejection of trade relations as a strategic decision on our
part to treat it as an enemy.
This would create an opening for hard-liners to move China in the
direction of confrontation instead of cooperation, heightening
tensions across the Taiwan Strait and the risk of disruptive incidents
in the South China Sea. That is why Taiwan's president-elect Chen
Shui-bian has voiced support for normal trade relations between China
and the United States. It is why our allies in the region agree. And
why so many of our own national security experts -- including Colin
Powell and six former secretaries of state are urging Congress to vote
yes on the pact.
The economic pluses are irrefutable. The value of a more open and
rule-based China is significant from the standpoint of human rights.
And helping China to focus on cooperation and integration is vital to
our security. Were the pact to be defeated, China would still join the
WTO, but the dividends yielded by lower trade and investment barriers
would be pocketed by our Asian and European competitors. We would be
left with the crumbs. Rejection also would harm the cause of those
working for reform from within China. And it would complicate efforts
for security cooperation with China at a dangerous time.
The vote on permanent trade relations with China may well be the
biggest economic and national security decision Congress faces this
year. But the arguments in favor are overwhelming. It should not be a
close call.
For Colorado, and for America, the smart choice is 'yes.'
(Madeleine K. Albright, a former Colorado resident, will be visiting
the state in May to speak on permanent trade relations with China.)



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