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17 May 2000

Text: President Clinton Hails Committees' Vote For China PNTR

(Urges Congressional passage of PNTR)  (410)
President Clinton, speaking May 17 from Greenwich, Connecticut,
praised the successful markups of the legislation that will grant
China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status.
The Senate Finance Committee and the House of Representatives Ways and
Means Committee approved legislation, which, if passed by the House of
Representatives and the Senate, will grant permanent NTR status to
China.
"A vote for PNTR will bring down China's barriers to American exports,
opening the largest potential market in the world to our goods and
services," Clinton said.
"A vote against PNTR will cost us exports and jobs, and cede this
massive new market to our competitors," he warned.
Following is the text of the statement by President Clinton:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Greenwich, Connecticut)
May 17, 2000
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
I am encouraged that the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways
and Means Committee have both approved legislation today authorizing
the extension of Permanent Normal Trade Relations to China. Today's
approval of PNTR is a significant step toward final passage by the
Congress. The strong bipartisan votes in both committees send a clear,
strong message that Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China is
vital to America's prosperity at home, our leadership in the world,
and to positive change in China.
The full Congress will now consider this legislation. Members will not
decide whether China will join the WTO -- it will. Congress will
decide whether we put American workers, farmers, and businesses at a
disadvantage by denying them the access to and benefits from China's
markets that their competitors in Japan and Europe will have. A vote
for PNTR will bring down China's barriers to American exports, opening
the largest potential market in the world to our goods and services. A
vote against PNTR will cost us exports and jobs, and cede this massive
new market to our competitors.
This is a decision of great importance and a moment of historic
opportunity. In this, the last week before the final vote, I will
redouble my efforts to convince Congress and the American people to
seize that opportunity to strengthen our economy, our national
security, and the forces of reform and positive change in China.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)