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Change Your Life! |
U.S. Senate clears way for Tuesday vote on China trade |
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September 16, 2000
WASHINGTON, SEPT 15 (AP) - The U.S. Senate on Thursday beat back the last proposed amendments to legislation putting normal trade with China on a permanent basis, setting up a vote on the historic bill next Tuesday. With all obstacles now removed, at least 70 of the 100 senators are expected to endorse the measure that would open China's markets and give American businesses and farmers the chance to increase their sales significantly. Sen. William Roth, a chief advocate, cited figures estimating that the new relationship would result in dlrs 13 billion in new U.S. exports to China. Passage of the bill, strongly backed by the Clinton administration and the business community, is necessary if the United States is to enjoy the lower tariffs and reduced trade barriers China is committed to as part of its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). First, the Senate had to clear away 19 amendments offered in the past two weeks, including six on Thursday. China trade supporters had said any amendment would kill the bill's passage this year because the House wouldn't have time to consider the changes before Congress adjourns next month. The amendments were offered mainly by critics of China who objected to giving the Beijing government permanent trade status before China improves its human rights, labor and weapons proliferation policies. Among the amendments considered Thursday were proposals requiring an end to deficits with China in cereals and advanced technology trade and one on the monitoring of Chinese cooperation on prisoner-of-war and missing-in-action issues. All were handily defeated or rejected by voice. The biggest challenge to an amendment-free bill came Wednesday when the Senate voted 65-32 to defeat a measure on sanctioning Chinese and other companies trafficking in weapons of mass destruction. Thompson said Thursday that, just one day after that vote, Chinese officials were again warning the United States of the "grave consequences" of building a national missile defense system. "I find it ironic that, on the eve of our new relationship with China, Beijing is threatening us," Thompson said. Another note of discord surfaced Thursday when Zeng Jianhui, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of China's National Peoples Congress, said in Washington that Taiwan could enter the 135-nation WTO, after China's entry, as a "separate customs territory of China." The United States says that designation for Taiwan is unacceptable. U.S. President Bill Clinton, in a letter this week to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, said there was a common understanding with China that both China and Taiwan will be invited to accede to the WTO at the same WTO general council session and that Taiwan will join as the "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu." "The United States will not accept any other outcome," Clinton said. |