DATE=9/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SENATE CHINA TRADE (L)
NUMBER=2-266743
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
// EDS: VOTE SKED FOR 2:15 P-M TUESDAY//
INTRO: The U-S Senate is poised to give final 
congressional approval to the bill that will give 
permanent normal trade relations to China.  V-O-A's 
David Swan reports, the atmosphere is far different 
than when the House of Representatives took up the 
measure in May.
TEXT: This time, there is no suspense surrounding the 
vote.  Unlike the bitterly divided House, the Senate 
is strongly in favor of normalizing trade with Beijing 
once and for all.  The measure easily cleared a series 
of test votes.  In the last two weeks, members of both 
parties joined together to beat back amendments that 
might have killed the proposal.
The bill is designed to ease China's entry into the 
World Trade Organization and in turn give American 
business new access to the vast Chinese market.  This 
means sharply lower tariffs on a wide range of U-S 
exports.  The tariff on high-technology products will 
disappear.  The levy on cars will drop from 80-percent 
to 25-percent, while duties on farm products will be 
slashed by more than half (31-percent to 14-percent).
Supporters of permanent normal trade say the plan will 
not only help U-S workers and farmers but will 
strengthen bilateral ties and in the long run raise 
living standards for many Chinese.  But opponents call 
it an undeserved reward for a repressive government.  
Republican Senator Jim Bunning says free trade has yet 
to improve China's human rights record or soften its 
threats toward Taiwan. 
            /// BUNNING ACT ///
      It's a sad day in Congress.  And I'm sorry to 
      say we're going to do the wrong thing at the 
      wrong time.
      
            /// END ACT ///
However, most lawmakers feel trade should not be 
derailed by other issues.  The vote for P-N-T-R will 
be a victory for both the White House and the 
Republican leadership - and perhaps the final chapter 
of President Clinton's legacy in foreign affairs.
(Signed)  
NEB/DS/KBK
18-Sep-2000 16:19 PM EDT (18-Sep-2000 2019 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.