DATE=4/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260905
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=

VOICED AT

INTRO:  President Clinton was in California's high-
tech "Silicon Valley" Monday campaigning for 
congressional approval of legislation extending 
permanent normal trade status to China. Republican 
congressional leaders - who support the President on 
the issue - have agreed to bring the measure to a vote 
by the end of next month. V-O-A's David Gollust 
reports from the White House.


TEXT:  Mr. Clinton is at odds with the Republican 
leadership on most issues in this election year. But 
they have found a common cause on the China trade 
measure, which both say is key to extending the U-S 
economic boom. 

China agreed to wide-ranging market-opening measures 
in the bilateral trade deal, which was concluded late 
last year as a condition for Chinese entry into the 
World Trade Organization.

The legislation appears assured of Senate approval. 
But its fate is unclear in the House, where members of 
the president's Democratic party fear it will lead to 
an exodus of U-S manufacturing jobs to low-wage 
factories in China.

Analysts in both parties believe chances for House 
approval will diminish with the approach of the 
November elections. And Mr. Clinton got a boost Monday 
with a commitment by House Majority Leader Dick Armey 
to bring the measure to a vote by the end of next 
month:

            /// ARMEY ACTUALITY ///

      When we have this most important vote of the 
      summer, sometime before the end of May, we want 
      each and every member of Congress to vote for 
      jobs for American workers, markets for American 
      products, a greater more vast world economy 
      within which we can export our products. This is 
      so critically important to us in terms of 
      maintaining this large productive economy that 
      we have.

            /// END ACT ///

As Mr. Armey spoke, the President was making a similar 
appeal to business leaders in San Jose, California, 
the heart of high-tech "Silicon Valley."  Mr. Clinton 
lamented that trade legislation has become a 
"lightning rod" for dissatisfaction and fear about 
globalization, and suggested that many opponents of 
the China bill are unaware how favorable its terms are 
to the United States.

He reiterated his stand that opening China to the 
Internet and other aspects of free trade will 
liberalize Chinese society and ease the grip of the 
Communist Party. And he warned that voting down the 
trade measure will cost the United States both in 
terms of trade and in its ability to influence Chinese 
policy.

            /// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///

      The main consequence of this will be to hurt 
      America economically and to dramatically strain 
      our relations with China at a time when we need 
      to maintain a positive ability to impact their 
      conduct: to reduce strains along the Taiwan 
      strait and to get the leaders in that country to 
      imagine the greatness of their country in future 
      terms, not yesterday's terms.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Clinton released letters from 40 state governors 
and some 200 high-tech industry leaders supporting the 
trade bill, which would end year-by-year Congressional 
reviews of China's trade status. 

Opponents say giving up the annual trade debate will 
cost the United States leverage over Chinese human 
rights practices, though Mr. Clinton told the San Jose 
audience it will not affect U-S persistence on the 
issue. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/TVM/gm



03-Apr-2000 17:19 PM EDT (03-Apr-2000 2119 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.