[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 64 (Friday, May 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
    WHY WE MUST RENEW MOST-FAVORED-NATION TRADING STATUS WITH CHINA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Dreier] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I have taken this very brief time, and I 
appreciate the forbearance of members of the staff here who have 
stayed, but I want to talk about an issue that is looming, going to be 
confronting us in the next few weeks.
  As most of my colleagues are aware, by June 3, Mr. Speaker, President 
Clinton has to make the decision as to whether or not he is going to 
renew most-favored-nation trading status with China, and this has been 
an ongoing debate. We are rapidly approaching the fifth anniversary of 
the tragedy of the Tiananmen Square massacre, and there is, 
understandably and correctly, a great deal of attention on the issue of 
human rights and human rights violations which have existed in China.
  I think it is very important for us to recognize that there has been 
dramatic improvement in the human rights situation in China, and we 
have to look at why it is that that improvement has taken place, and I 
believe that every bit of empirical evidence that we have today shows 
that that improvement has come about because of exposure to the West by 
the people of China. It seems to me that, if we are going to deal with 
the issue of human rights in China, the most important thing that we 
can do is to renew most-favored-nation trading status with China and 
make it permanent.
  Why?
  Because it has been this exposure to the West, United States business 
investment in China, which has played a key role in improving the 
quality of life for people in China and at the same time strengthening 
ties between the United States of America and the most populous country 
in the world. China has nearly five times the population of the United 
States, between 1.2 and 1.3 billion people, and we would, if we were to 
revoke most-favored-nation trading status with China, not alienate 
China from the rest of the world. We would alienate the United States 
of America from the world and, most specifically, the large and very 
important market of the Pacific rim.
  Now, as we have been looking at this debate on human rights, most of 
us who have been strong proponents of the MFN have had a pattern over 
the last several years of simply being on the defensive, trying to 
argue that it is very important for us to maintain this so we can 
improve the situation.
  Well, Mr. Speaker, I have come to the conclusion that it is important 
for us to go on the offensive on this issue because, as we look at this 
question, it is going to be more United States business investment in 
China which will continue to improve the human rights situation there.
  As this debate continues, Mr. Speaker, I hope very much that the 
President will make the right decision. The right decision is in the 
name of human rights, in the name of denuclearization of the Korean 
Peninsula, in the name of maintaining support in the U.N. Security 
Council, in the name of ensuring that we slow weapons exports from 
China, to renew most favored-nation trading status.
  I hope the President makes that decision, and if by chance there is a 
resolution of disagreement which is offered in this House, I hope very 
much that my colleagues will reject it so that we can achieve those 
shared goals that we have.

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