DATE=3/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - CHINA - WTO (L-ONITER)
NUMBER=2-259947
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


	// Clinton speech skedded 3:30pm est Wednesday //

INTRO:  President Clinton will send Congress 
legislation granting China permanent normal trade 
relations and will use a Washington speech Wednesday 
to urge lawmakers to approve the measure soon.   On 
the eve of the address, Mr. Clinton invited Senate 
leaders to the White House to make a personal appeal. 
VOA  Correspondent Deborah Tate reports.



Text:  Mr. Clinton told the bipartisan group of 
Senators Tuesday night that the vote to extend normal 
trade relations to China on a permanent basis would be 
the most important one they would cast this year, and 
that the action would have an impact on the United 
States for years to come.

But the administration has faced an uphill battle to 
win support for permanent normal trade ties for China 
- a condition for Beijing's accession to the World 
Trade Organization.

Under a deal reached last November, Beijing agreed to 
open more of its markets to foreign goods in exchange 
for Washington agreeing to support China's entry into 
the WTO.

Some of the strongest opposition has come from 
lawmakers of Mr. Clinton's own Democratic party - who, 
backed by their influential labor union allies - 
believe the trade deal would lead to a loss of US  
jobs to China, where wages are lower.

Other lawmakers have been reluctant to back the deal 
because of China's questionable human rights record 
and its recent threats to use force if necessary to 
achieve reunification with Taiwan.

But Mr. Clinton has argued that more trade with China 
would mean more US jobs, and would also encourage 
reform in China and promote regional stability. 

It appeared the President got his message across.   In 
a rare show of unity, Republican Majority Leader Trent 
Lott and Democratic Minority Leader Tom Daschle 
emerged from the White House meeting in full 
agreement.

	            // Lott actuality //

      People say what about human rights violations? 
      What about their closed society?  I say this is 
      the way to open it up.  If you open up 
      telecommunications in China - the President made 
      some points about the number of Chinese now that 
      are getting on the internet and it will grow 
      dramatically in the next few years, if we can 
      sell more of our American agriculture products 
      and they can have a better standard of living, 
      that will be good for America and it will good 
      for China, it will change them irreversibly.  


	            // Daschle actuality //

      Senator Lott is absolutely right.  This is not a 
      vote to punish or reward China. This is a vote 
      to ensure that we have more jobs, more 
      agriculture, more technology, more business 
      going to China, and there is no other way to do 
      it than to make sure this vote is a successful 
      one when it comes before the Senate and the 
      House.


            	// end act //

Mr. Clinton wants Congressional approval of permanent 
normal trade status for China by June to avoid having 
the issue become politicized in the run-up to 
November's general elections.

Mr. Lott vowed to seek vote in what he called "a 
reasonable period of time."  (Signed)



NEB/DAT/PT



07-Mar-2000 21:02 PM EDT (08-Mar-2000 0202 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.