DATE=5/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - CHINA TRADE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262391
BYLINE=BARRY WOOD
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: With the U-S Congress set to vote this month
on permanent normal trade relations with China, both
sides of the contentious debate were on display Monday
at a conference in Washington on globalization. V-O-
A's Barry Wood reports.
TEXT: It was business against labor at the Economic
Strategy Institute's forum on globalization. Philip
Condit, the chairman of the Boeing Company, made an
impassioned appeal for normal trade with China, saying
a no vote would penalize U-S companies, making them
appear as unreliable partners in the world's biggest
market. George Becker, the president of the United
Steel Workers Union, said a yes vote would betray
America's principles. He accused China of being a
rogue nation, raping the environment, and ignoring the
rule of law.
/// BECKER ACT ///
There are 1,000 forced labor, slave labor camps
in China today. Ninety-nine of them are listed
by Dun and Bradstreet (the financial services
company) as key manufacturing facilities in
China. Workers who even talk or try to lift
their lot in life, talk about freedom and
workers rights, are fired, beaten, receive harsh
prison sentences, or simply disappear.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Becker says with a yes vote on normal trade
Congress would be making a success of Chinese
communism.
An opposing view comes from Victor Fung, the chairman
of Hong Kong's Trade Development Council. Mr. Fung
believes the U-S vote is a decisive moment in history.
He believes normal trade relations would boost China's
rapidly growing private (non-government) sector.
/// FUNG ACT ///
In 1978, more than 20 years ago, when China
started its economic opening, nearly 100-percent
of the economy was controlled by the state.
Ninety-eight percent of industrial output was
controlled by the state. That number has gone
down to 28-percent today.
/// END ACT ///
But not all business interests favor normal trade
status for China. The hard pressed U-S steel industry
opposes it with a top executive of once powerful
Bethlehem Steel complaining that surging steel imports
have made the United States the world' dumping ground
for steel. Another expert said by ending its annual
review of human rights in China, Congress would be
giving away the limited leverage the United States now
has in promoting human rights. (Signed)
NEB/BDW/TVM/gm
15-May-2000 16:10 PM EDT (15-May-2000 2010 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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