[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               CHINA MFN

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, Congress will soon take up the question of 
whether or not to renew China's most-favored-nation trade status inside 
this marketplace for another year. I am one Member of Congress who will 
vote ``no,'' as in no more lost U.S. jobs, no more abdication of the 
U.S. marketplace, no more trade deficits and no more wishful thinking 
on our trade policy toward China.
  Every year the American public is told that, if Congress votes to 
renew China's MFN status just one more year, that our trading 
relationship with China will improve. Well, it has not.
  This chart shows over the last 7 years the United States trade 
deficit with China has increased over 1000 percent, from a deficit of 
$3 billion in 1988 to over $35 billion last year and projected over $40 
billion this year.
  At this rate China will even pass Japan shortly in racking up the 
most red ink with this country. China remains a closed authoritarian 
Communist regime. Why should Congress add more red ink to this ledger?

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