DATE=2/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA NTR (LONG-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259234
BYLINE=BARRY WOOD
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Clinton and opposition Republicans in 
Congress have begun a major push to win passage of 
normal trading status for China, a key component of 
the plan to bring China into the World Trade 
Organization. V-O-A's Barry Wood reports the House 
Ways and Means Committee (Wednesday) held its first 
hearing on the issue.


TEXT: President Clinton says the vote on China in the 
Congress is more a national security than a political 
issue. At a White House news conference (Wednesday), 
Mr. Clinton said the U-S China trade deal is strongly 
in favor of the United States.

            /// CLINTON ACT ///

      This trade agreement offers no increased access 
      to the American market by China but gives us 
      dramatically increased access to their market. 
      Moreover it means we get access to their market 
      without having to transfer technology or agree 
      to do manufacturing in their country.

            /// END ACT ///

Ways and Means Committee (Republican) Chairman Bill 
Archer agrees with President Clinton that the U-S 
China trade deal negotiated in November benefits the 
United States more than China.

            /// ARCHER ACT ///

      In effect the Chinese economically unilaterally 
      disarmed. And that is exceedingly important. 
      Unlike all other types of trade negotiations-
      whether it be the Uruguay Round, whether it be 
      Nafta, whether it be the Canada Free Trade 
      Agreement, where we are expected to give up 
      something in order to get something from the 
      other side, in this agreement we gave up 
      nothing.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Archer's position was endorsed at the 
congressional hearing by Charlene Barshevsky, the U-S 
Trade Representative, who negotiated the deal.  Ms. 
Barshevsky says while China is making significant 
concessions that will open its relatively closed 
economy, all the United States has to do is approve N-
T-R.
 
            /// BARSHEVSKY ACT ///

      We make no change of any sort, not a percentage 
      point in any current market access policy toward 
      China. We change no law toward the export of 
      technology to China or the export of sensitive 
      material to China. We amend none of our trade 
      laws. Our one obligation is that we provide on a 
      permanent basis the trade status we have 
      accorded to China in every year in the last 22 
      years, and that is making normal trade status 
      with China permanent.

            /// END ACT ///

A vote is several months off but already it is being 
identified as one of the most important issues facing 
Congress this year. Opponents come mainly from 
President Clinton's democratic party. They include 
trade unionists, environmentalists, and human rights 
activists, the same groups that disrupted the failed 
World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle last 
November. (Signed)

NEB/BDW/gm 



16-Feb-2000 17:39 PM EDT (16-Feb-2000 2239 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.