DATE=4/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA TRADE (L)
NUMBER=2-260975
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Clinton has welcomed the decision by 
House Speaker Dennis Hastert to schedule a decisive 
vote on the U-S/China trade agreement for the week of 
May 22nd.  Mr. Clinton is promising an all-out effort 
to persuade reluctant members of his own Democratic 
party to support the controversial measure. V-O-A's 
David Gollust reports from the White House.

TEXT: The President is in an unusual alliance with the 
Republican leadership in Congress in supporting the 
trade bill, which would give China permanent, normal, 
U-S trade status and help clear the way for Chinese 
membership in the World Trade Organization. 

Many Democrats argue that by giving up what has been 
an annual congressional review on China trade, the 
United States will lose leverage in influencing - for 
the better - Chinese human rights practices.

But in welcoming Speaker Hastert's announcement at an 
economic conference here, Mr. Clinton insisted the 
sweeping tariff cuts China will have to make will have 
the effect of reducing the Communist party's grip on 
everyday life:

            /// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///

      It also slashes those tariffs that protect the 
      state-run industries in China, which in large 
      measure have been the instrument of single-party 
      control there. So I think it will lead to an 
      opening of the society and a rise of freedom and 
      personal choice.

            /// END ACT ///

The president - who also said the trade deal will 
accelerate the growth of Internet use in China - 
called its approval a "profoundly-important" U-S 
national security interest and said he would do 
everything he can to get it through Congress.

Passage of the measure is considered certain in the 
Senate.  But its fate is unclear in the House of 
Representatives, and the president has been having 
almost-daily meetings and telephone talks with 
undecided House Democrats to enlist their support.

The White House had wanted an early House vote, 
fearing that support for the trade bill would erode 
with the approach of the November elections.  
Organized labor, which gives the Democrats vital 
campaign support, strongly opposes the agreement on 
grounds it would trigger an exodus of U-S 
manufacturing jobs to low-wage factories in China. 
(Signed)

NEB/DAG/gm



05-Apr-2000 12:47 PM EDT (05-Apr-2000 1647 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.