DATE=9/13/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SENATE - CHINA TRADE (L)
NUMBER=2-266459
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-S Senate will not link trade with China
to Beijing's arms proliferation record. As V-O-A's
Paula Wolfson reports after days of debate, senators
turned down an effort to add the threat of
sanctions to a major trade bill.
TEXT: The arms proliferation issue was the biggest
threat to congressional passage of the China trade
legislation.
Two senators -- Republican Fred Thompson of Tennessee
and Democrat Robert Torricelli of New Jersey -- fought
long and hard to get their colleagues to merge
consideration of arms sales with trade.
They called for a regular review of weapons
proliferation activities, combined with the threat of
unilateral sanctions.
Senator Thompson said Congress has a duty to put
national security first.
////THOMPSON ACT ////
The preamble to our Constitution says the reason
why we even have a government is to look after
matters such as this.
//// END ACT ////
(OPT)Mr. Thompson's amendment was the focus of days of
debate and behind-the-scenes negotiations. He found
an ally in West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd.
///BYRD ACT ///
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
- - nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles,
chemical weapons, biological weapons - - is a
growing menace to world stability. Can we not
see that?
/// END ACT //// (END OPT)
But other members of the Senate from both political
parties argued arms proliferation should be considered
separately. Texas Republican Phil Gramm said the
issue of permanent trade relations should stand alone.
//// GRAMM ACT ///
We are not endorsing China. We are trying to
trade with them. We are trying to promote
economic freedom. Because we know economic
freedom not only enriches us and them, but it
ultimately produces an irresistible demand of
people to have political freedom.
//// END ACT ////
As they deal with the trade legislation, Senators are
only too aware the congressional calendar is running
out. Any changes to the bill would have to be
approved by the House of Representatives in the few
weeks left. Delaware Democrat Joe Biden was blunt.
/// BIDEN ACT///
Everybody knows that if this amendment passes or
any other amendment passes attached to this
bill, that the larger issue of trade with China
is dead.
/// END ACT ///
Now that the threat of possible changes has faded
away, the Senate is expected to pass the bill in a
matter of days and send it on to President Clinton for
his signature.(SIGNED)
NEB/PW/FC
13-Sep-2000 15:49 PM EDT (13-Sep-2000 1949 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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