[House Document 106-77]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




106th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-77

 
A REPORT TO THE CONGRESS CONCERNING THE EXTENSION OF WAIVER AUTHORITY 
                  FOR THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

NOTIFICATION OF HIS DETERMINATION THAT CONTINUATION OF THE WAIVER 
  CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WILL 
  SUBSTANTIALLY PROMOTE THE OBJECTIVES OF SECTION 402 OF THE TRADE ACT OF 
  1974, PURSUANT TO 19 U.S.C. 2432 (c) AND (d)




June 7, 1999.--Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered 
                             to be printed


                               __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
69-011                     WASHINGTON : 1999


                                           The White House,
                                          Washington, June 3, 1999.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: I hereby transmit the document referred 
to in subsection 402(d)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended 
(the ``Act''), with respect to the continuation of a waiver of 
application of subsections (a) and (b) of section 402 of the 
Act to the People's Republic of China. This document 
constitutes my recommendation to continue in effect this waiver 
for a further 12-month period and includes my determination 
that continuation of the waiver currently in effect for the 
People's Republic of China will substantially promote the 
objectives of section 402 of the Act, and my reasons for such 
determination.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.
Report to the Congress Concerning the Extension of Waiver Authority for 
                     the People's Republic of China

    Pursuant to subsection 402(d)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 
(hereinafter ``the Act''), as amended, having determined that 
further extension of the waiver authority granted by subsection 
402(c) of the Act for twelve months will substantially promote 
the objectives of section 402, I have today determined that 
continuation of the waiver currently applicable to China will 
also substantially promote the objectives of section 402 of the 
Act. My determination is attached and incorporated herein.
Freedom of Emigration Determination
    China's relatively free emigration policies have continued 
during the past twelve months. In FY 1998, 27,776 U.S. 
immigrant visas were issued to Chinese nationals abroad, up 
slightly from FY 1997. Numbers were made available to 
immigrants from China up to the numerical limitation under U.S. 
law. The figure of 27,776 includes only immigrant visas issued 
at U.S. consular offices abroad, and does not take into account 
adjustments of status at INS offices in the United States.
    In FY 1998, 197,332 U.S. visas were issued worldwide to 
tourists and business visitors from China, a 3 percent increase 
from the FY 1997 total of 190,712.
    Also in FY 1998, 27,909 student visas (including exchange 
student visas) were issued, a 16 percent increase from the FY 
1997 total of 23,973.
    The higher volume of visas issued in these categories 
generally reflects the overall 6 percent increase in non-
immigrant visa applications (including issuances and refusals) 
at U.S. consular offices in China in FY 1998 from FY 1997 
levels (317,150 to 337,511).
    The principal constraint on increased emigration continued 
to be the capacity and willingness of other nations to absorb 
Chinese immigrants rather than Chinese policy. After 
considering all the relevant information, I have concluded that 
continuing the waiver will preserve the gains already achieved 
on freedom of emigration and encourage further progress.

                                  
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