Passage 66 China Trade

This week,two important committees in Congress approved legislation
to give permanent normal trade rights to China.
The bill faces a close vote in the House of Representatives next week
but it is expected to pass easily in the Senate.
Each year since 1980,Congress has renewed China's trade rights.
The term "most-favored nation"is no longer used.
It appeared to describe a special relationship,
but only meant normal trade relations.
Almost all countries have these rights with the United States.
If China did not,the United States would increase taxes
and restrictions on imported Chinese goods.
The bill would end the requirement that Congress vote each year
on trade relations with China.It would make normal trade relations permanent.
In exchange,China would open its markets to American companies.
The proposed legislation this year is part of a trade agreement
reached between China and the United States.
The agreement helps China in its effort to join the World Trade Organization
That group sets the rules of international business.
The Clinton administration and business groups
support the trade bill in congress.
They say it will earn American companies major new trading rights in china
They say China's entry into the WTO will increase American exports
by as much as 3,000,000 dollars within five years.
And they say all that trade will help the Chinese people
to become more open to influences outside their country.
The United States imported almost 70,000,000,000 dollars more from China
last year than it exported to that country.
Only the trade deficit with Japan is larger.
Opponents of the bill say the yearly vote in Congress is an important tool
for influencing policy in China.
And they question if China would honor its responsibilities
as a member of the WTO.
Among those opposing the bill are lavor unions.
They say American workers will lose their jobs.
The unions worry that American companies will open more factories in China
Small-business owners worry,too,about competing against lower-cost imports
Human rights groups and environmental activists also oppose permanent
trade rights for China.
To gain support for the bill,the House Ways and Means Committee last week
added new measures to protect American industries.
These would permit the president to assist industries hurt
by a possible sudden increase of imports from China.
A separate bill would create an independent committee
to examine human rights in China.
In Beijing Friday,China moved another step closer
to membership in the World Trade Organization,
by signing a trade agreement with the European Union.