DATE=5/24/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA TRADE
NUMBER=5-46370
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton - with considerable help
from the Republican majority in Congress - has secured
a major legislative victory with House approval of
permanent, normal, U-S trade status for China or P-N-
T-R. The debate over the trade bill, which will bring
China into the World Trade Organization, was bitter to
the end, and the divisiveness could affect the
upcoming Presidential election. VOA's David Gollust
reports from the White House.
TEXT: Mr. Clinton had invested hundreds of hours in
the campaign for the China trade bill, which he had
made his main legislative priority in his final year
in office. When the decisive vote came - with a more
comfortable margin than expected - he was quick to
welcome the outcome as a historic step toward
continued prosperity in the United States, reform in
China, and peace in the world:
///Clinton actuality///
Bringing China into the W-T-O and normalizing
trade will strengthen those who fight for the
environment, for labor standards, 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.
///end act///
The bill - which is certain to get final approval in
the Senate in a few weeks - permanently puts China on
the same basis as other major U-S trade partners and
does away with what has been an annual debate in
Congress on China's trade status and human rights
record. It also clears the way to W-T-O membership
for China under the bilateral deal reached late last
year that greatly lowers Chinese trade barriers to U-S
goods and services.
The Clinton administration and the Republican
leadership argued that the bill would help reverse the
huge imbalance in bilateral trade favoring China,
while opening Chinese society to the liberalizing
influences of freer trade and the Internet.
But opponents warned the measure would trigger an
exodus U-S manufacturing jobs to China, where wages
are low and environmental and labor protections weak.
They also said the United States would lose its
ability to influence China's human rights practices by
giving up the annual trade discussion.
In Wednesday's closing debate, New York Democrat Eliot
Engel said supporters of P-N-T-R were putting profits
above all other considerations:
///Engel actuality///
There is no doubt that business will make a lot
of money if this bill passes. But are we only
for the almighty dollar, or are we for morality
and doing what's right? The almighty dollar, or
human rights? The almighty dollar or American
jobs? The almighty dollar or environmental
concerns? Why can't we continue our annual
review of China instead of giving them a
permanent blank check? It's the only leverage we
have. Is it only the almighty dollar that
counts. Shame on us if it's true. Vote no.
///end act///
To ease human rights concerns, Republican leaders
agreed to set up a Congressional commission that would
monitor human rights in China and recommend sanctions
if necessary. The action helped attract enough
wavering Democrats to get the necessary House
majority.
Democrat Marty Meehan of Massachusetts told colleagues
he had no illusions about China's record on labor and
workers' rights but that engagement with Beijing is,
on balance, the best way to bring about change:
///Meehan actuality///
Isolating China will do not a thing to bring
about a more just economic or political order
there. The answer is not turning our back on
China. The answer is pushing our democratic
values upon China, through commerce and
communication with its citizens. This engagement
will spur forces of individual inspiration and
aspiration and initiative in China that in the
long-run no authoritarian government can ever
contain. There is a claim here that we have to
choose between American prosperity and Chinese
human rights. I say choose both. Vote yes.
///end act///
Democrats like Mr. Meehan who joined in support of the
bill did so despite opposition from organized labor,
which is closely allied with, and provides critical
financial backing, to the Democratic party.
Vice President Al Gore, who faces Republican George W.
Bush in the race for the White House, was hestitant to
embrace the China trade bill. But he later gave it his
full support - prompting the powerful United
Autoworkers Union to warn this week it might withhold
its endorsement of Mr. Gore in favor of minor party
candidate Ralph Nader.
Political analysts say both the President and Mr. Gore
will now have to work hard to close the rift within
their party, while Mr. Bush tries to capitalize on the
situation and expand his already-sizeable lead in the
polls. (Signed)
NEB/DAG/PT
24-May-2000 18:46 PM EDT (24-May-2000 2246 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
