DATE=5/24/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA TRADE
NUMBER=5-46370
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  President Clinton - with considerable help 
from the Republican majority in Congress - has secured 
a major legislative victory with House approval of 
permanent, normal, U-S trade status for China or P-N-
T-R. The debate over the trade bill, which will bring 
China into the World Trade Organization, was bitter to 
the end, and the divisiveness could affect the 
upcoming Presidential election. VOA's David Gollust 
reports from the White House.


TEXT:  Mr. Clinton had invested hundreds of hours in 
the campaign for the China trade bill, which he had 
made his main legislative priority in his final year 
in office. When the decisive vote came - with a more 
comfortable margin than expected - he was quick to 
welcome the outcome as a historic step toward 
continued prosperity in the United States, reform in 
China, and peace in the world:

            ///Clinton actuality///

      Bringing China into the W-T-O and normalizing 
      trade will strengthen those who fight for the 
      environment,  for labor standards, for the rule 
      of law. For China, this agreement will clearly 
      increase the benefits of cooperation and the 
      costs of confrontation. America of course will 
      continue to defend our interests, but at this 
      stage in China's development, we will have more 
      positive influence with an outstretched hand 
      than with a clenched fist. The House today has 
      affirmed that belief.


            ///end act///

The bill - which is certain to get final approval in 
the Senate in a few weeks - permanently puts China on 
the same basis as other major U-S trade partners and 
does away with what has been an annual debate in 
Congress on China's trade status and human rights 
record.  It also clears the way to W-T-O membership 
for China under the bilateral deal reached late last 
year that greatly lowers Chinese trade barriers to U-S 
goods and services.

The Clinton administration and the Republican 
leadership argued that the bill would help reverse the 
huge imbalance in bilateral trade favoring China, 
while opening Chinese society to the liberalizing 
influences of freer trade and the Internet.

But opponents warned the measure would trigger an 
exodus U-S manufacturing jobs to China, where wages 
are low and environmental and labor protections weak.  
They also said the United States would lose its 
ability to influence China's human rights practices by 
giving up the annual trade discussion.

In Wednesday's closing debate, New York Democrat Eliot 
Engel said supporters of P-N-T-R were putting profits 
above all other considerations:

            ///Engel actuality///

      There is no doubt that business will make a lot 
      of money if this bill passes. But are we only 
      for the almighty dollar, or are we for morality 
      and doing what's right? The almighty dollar, or 
      human rights? The almighty dollar or American 
      jobs? The almighty dollar or environmental 
      concerns? Why can't we continue our annual 
      review of China instead of giving them a 
      permanent blank check? It's the only leverage we 
      have. Is it only the almighty dollar that 
      counts. Shame on us if it's true. Vote no.


            ///end act///

To ease human rights concerns, Republican leaders 
agreed to set up a Congressional commission that would 
monitor human rights in China and recommend sanctions 
if necessary. The action helped attract enough 
wavering Democrats to get the necessary House 
majority. 

Democrat Marty Meehan of Massachusetts told colleagues 
he had no illusions about China's record on labor and 
workers' rights but that engagement with Beijing is, 
on balance, the best way to bring about change:

            ///Meehan actuality///

      Isolating China will do not a thing to bring 
      about a more just economic or political order 
      there. The answer is not turning our back on 
      China. The answer is pushing our democratic 
      values upon China, through commerce and 
      communication with its citizens. This engagement 
      will spur forces of individual inspiration and 
      aspiration and initiative in China that in the 
      long-run no authoritarian government can ever 
      contain. There is a claim here that we have to 
      choose between American prosperity and Chinese 
      human rights. I say choose both. Vote yes.


            ///end act///

Democrats like Mr. Meehan who joined in support of the 
bill did so despite opposition from organized labor, 
which is closely allied with, and provides critical 
financial backing, to the Democratic party.

Vice President Al Gore, who faces Republican George W. 
Bush in the race for the White House, was hestitant to 
embrace the China trade bill. But he later gave it his 
full support - prompting the powerful United 
Autoworkers Union to warn this week it might withhold 
its endorsement of Mr. Gore in favor of minor party 
candidate Ralph Nader.

Political analysts say both the President and Mr. Gore 
will now have to work hard to close the rift within 
their party, while Mr. Bush tries to capitalize on the 
situation and expand his already-sizeable lead in the 
polls. (Signed)



NEB/DAG/PT





24-May-2000 18:46 PM EDT (24-May-2000 2246 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.