DATE=5/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - CHINA TRADE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262391
BYLINE=BARRY WOOD
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  With the U-S Congress set to vote this month 
on permanent normal trade relations with China, both 
sides of the contentious debate were on display Monday 
at a conference in Washington on globalization. V-O-
A's Barry Wood reports.


TEXT:  It was business against labor at the Economic 
Strategy Institute's forum on globalization. Philip 
Condit, the chairman of the Boeing Company, made an 
impassioned appeal for normal trade with China, saying 
a no vote would penalize U-S companies, making them 
appear as unreliable partners in the world's biggest 
market. George Becker, the president of the United 
Steel Workers Union, said a yes vote would betray 
America's principles. He accused China of being a 
rogue nation, raping the environment, and ignoring the 
rule of law.

            /// BECKER ACT ///

      There are 1,000 forced labor, slave labor camps 
      in China today. Ninety-nine of them are listed 
      by Dun and Bradstreet (the financial services 
      company) as key manufacturing facilities in 
      China. Workers who even talk or try to lift 
      their lot in life, talk about freedom and 
      workers rights, are fired, beaten, receive harsh 
      prison sentences, or simply disappear.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Becker says with a yes vote on normal trade 
Congress would be making a success of Chinese 
communism.

An opposing view comes from Victor Fung, the chairman 
of Hong Kong's Trade Development Council. Mr. Fung 
believes the U-S vote is a decisive moment in history. 
He believes normal trade relations would boost China's 
rapidly growing private (non-government) sector.

            /// FUNG ACT ///

      In 1978, more than 20 years ago, when China 
      started its economic opening, nearly 100-percent 
      of the economy was controlled by the state. 
      Ninety-eight percent of industrial output was 
      controlled by the state. That number has gone 
      down to 28-percent today.

            /// END ACT ///

But not all business interests favor normal trade 
status for China. The hard pressed U-S steel industry 
opposes it with a top executive of once powerful 
Bethlehem Steel complaining that surging steel imports 
have made the United States the world' dumping ground 
for steel. Another expert said by ending its annual 
review of human rights in China, Congress would be 
giving away the limited leverage the United States now 
has in promoting human rights. (Signed)

NEB/BDW/TVM/gm



15-May-2000 16:10 PM EDT (15-May-2000 2010 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.