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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

USIS Washington File

24 May 2000

Text: Clinton Statement on House PNTR Vote

(Historic step toward prosperity, China reform, world peace) (1250)
Following is the official White House text of the President's
statement on the May 24 House of Representatives vote on Permanent
Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) for China:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release              May 24, 2000
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON PASSAGE OF PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA
BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Rose Garden
6:03 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Today, the House of Representatives has
taken an historic step toward continued prosperity in America, reform
in China, and peace in the world. If the Senate votes, as the House
has just done, to extend permanent normal trade relations with China,
it will open new doors of trade for America and new hope for change in
China.
Seven years ago, when I became President, I charted a new course for a
new economy -- a course of fiscal discipline, investment in our people
and open trade. I have always believed that by opening markets abroad,
we open opportunities at home. We've worked hard to advance that goal
of more open and more fair trade since 1993 -- all the way up to the
landmark legislation I signed just a few days ago to expand trade with
Africa and the Caribbean Basin.
Just this week, Speaker Hastert and I reached an agreement that many
members of the House in both parties have already supported, to bring
the same kinds of investment opportunity and jobs to America's new
markets -- to people and places here in this country who have not yet
participated in our prosperity, in rural areas, inner cities, on our
Native American reservations.
With more than a billion people, China is the largest new market in
the world. Our administration has negotiated an agreement which will
open China's markets to American products made on American soil --
everything from corn to chemicals to computers. Today, the House has
affirmed that agreement.
We will be exporting, however, more than our products. By this
agreement, we will also export more of one of our most cherished
values, economic freedom. Bringing China into the WTO and normalizing
trade will strengthen those who fight for the environment, for labor
standards, for human rights, for the rule of law. For China, this
agreement will clearly increase the benefits of cooperation, and the
costs of confrontation.
America, of course, will continue to defend our interests, but at this
stage in China's development, we will have more positive influence
with an outstretched hand than with a clenched fist. The House today
has affirmed that belief.
Now, I have spoken personally to many, many members of Congress. I
have heard their concerns and those of their constituents. I know
this, for many, was a difficult vote. Decisions like this one test our
deepest beliefs. They challenge our hopes, and they call forth our
fears. Though China may be changing, we all know it remains a
one-party state, that it still denies people the rights of free speech
and religious expression. We know that trade alone will not bring
freedom to China or peace to the world. That's why permanent normal
trade relations must also signal our commitment to permanent change.
America will keep pressing to protect our security and to advance our
values. The vote today is a big boost to both efforts. For the more
China liberalizes its economy, the more it will liberate the potential
of its people -- to work without restraint; to live without fear.
In January, I pledged an all-out effort to take this important step. I
want to thank everyone who has joined in it. I want to express special
gratitude to Speaker Hastert for his leadership, to Congressman Archer
and Congressman Rangel of the Ways and Means Committee. I also want to
acknowledge Congressman Levin and Congressman Bereuter, who authored a
provision on human rights that improves this bill and strengthens our
ability to stand up for our values.
I thank all the others who spoke out for this action, including all
our former Presidents, all the former Secretaries of State, Defense,
trade ministers, other Cabinet members, all the military leaders. I
thank those who worked for human rights and the rule of law who spoke
out for this legislation.
And, of course, I want to thank all those who worked in this
administration: Secretary Daley, for spearheading our campaign;
Charlene Barshefsky and Gene Sperling, for their negotiation of the
agreement; Steve Ricchetti, here in the White House, and Sandy Berger
and all the others who worked so hard for this agreement here. I
appreciate what everyone has done.
Today, the House has taken an important step for the kind of future I
think we all want for our children, for an America that will be more
prosperous and more secure; for a China that is more open to our
products and more respectful of the rule of law at home and abroad.
The House has spoken, and now the eyes of the world turn toward the
United States Senate. I am confident it, too, will act swiftly to
advance these interests.
I will be speaking with many senators in the days ahead to ensure that
we continue to move ahead to get this done as promptly as possible.
This is one of the most important votes the Senate will face in this
session. I hope we can build on our momentum on this issue and on
other pressing priorities, as well. I still believe the Congress can
act to add voluntary prescription drug coverage to Medicare; to invest
more in our children's education; to pass the legislation to invest in
these American markets here at home; to pass the common sense gun
safety legislation; to raise the minimum wage.
Again, I thank the House and I look forward to working with the
Congress in the days ahead.
This is a good day for America. And 10 years from now we will look
back on this day and be glad we did this. We will see that we have
given ourselves a chance to build the kind of future we want. This is
a good economic agreement because we get all the economic benefits of
lower tariffs and lowered access to the Chinese market. We get new
protections against dumping of products in our own markets. What we
have granted is full members in the World Trade Organization, which
brings China into a rule-based international system.
But I have said many times, and I'd just like to say once more, to me,
the most important benefit of all is that we have given ourselves and
the Chinese a chance -- not a guarantee, but a chance -- to build a
future in the Asia Pacific region for the next 50 years very different
from the last 50. We fought three wars in that part of the world. A
lot of Americans died for freedom; a lot of sacrifice should not go
unredeemed. We owe it to them, to their children, and to our children
and grandchildren to give the world a chance to build a better and a
different future. We have taken a big step toward giving them that
chance today.
Thank you very much.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)



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