DATE=5/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA TRADE / POLITICS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262816
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton is trying to heal divisions
in his Democratic Party caused by the recent battle in
Congress over normalizing U-S trade with China. A day
after the Republican-led House (of Representatives)
handed Mr. Clinton a victory and approved "permanent
normal trade relations" for Beijing -- a measure
opposed by many Democrats -- the president focused his
attention (Thursday) on his party's agenda.
Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White
House.
TEXT: Mr. Clinton hopes to unify his party following
the bruising battle that led up to Wednesday's House
passage of "permanent normal trade relations," or
P-N-T-R, with China.
Party unity is a top priority for Mr. Clinton, since
he wants to do all he can to help boost Vice President
Al Gore's chances of succeeding him in the White
House.
Organized labor, which led the opposition to the China
trade measure, has threatened to withhold support from
Mr. Gore in November's election because of the
president and vice president's support for the
"P-N-T-R" measure. Labor unions believe freer trade
with China will undermine the cause of human rights
there and result in lost American jobs.
Mr. Clinton acknowledged the concerns, and pledged
stepped-up efforts to ensure that job losses are kept
to a minimum.
/// CLINTON ACT ///
What we have to do is to hold as many jobs as we
can by doing whatever we can to support the
industries that are competitive. And if people
lose their jobs, we believe -- all of us believe
-- we ought to spend more money more quickly, to
retrain our workers, and to get more investment
into areas that lose them.
/// END ACT ///
The president has acknowledged trade is a difficult
issue for organized labor and many Democrats. But
with Democratic congressional leaders standing at his
side, Mr. Clinton said Democrats are on the same page
on just about every other issue.
/// 2ND CLINTON ACT ///
There is much more that unites us than divides
us.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Clinton invited Democratic leaders in Congress to
the White House to discuss a proposal to help the
elderly pay for prescription drugs.
Senate Minority leader Tom Daschle suggested the
battle over trade would not hinder cooperation with
the president on common agenda issues, like
prescription drugs.
/// DASCHLE ACT ///
Mr. President, Senate Democrats want to work
with you, House Democrats and all our Republican
colleagues, to pass a real meaningful affordable
Medicare drug plan. I believe we can do it.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Clinton expressed hope that Republicans would
continue to work with him on other issues, following
their support of the China trade deal. But with
elections less than six months away, Republicans may
not want to hand this administration any more
legislative victories. (Signed)
NEB/DAT/WTW
25-May-2000 14:02 PM EDT (25-May-2000 1802 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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