[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 110 (Friday, July 30, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 DISAPPROVING EXTENSION OF NONDISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT TO PRODUCTS OF 
                       PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. MARK GREEN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 27, 1999

  Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I am reluctantly voting today to 
affirm the Administration's renewal of Normal Trade Relations (NTR) 
status with the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the coming year. 
At the same time, I also want to reaffirm my current opposition to the 
extension of permanent NTR status to China. I strongly believe the 
United States should preserve the annual option of suspending NTR open 
as a potential instrument of policy, and trust China is aware that it 
continues to edge ever closer to a suspension of its NTR status with 
the United States.
  I hold grave reservations over current U.S.-China relations. Among 
other things, the PRC's theft of U.S. nuclear and computer technology 
secrets, its continued opposition to U.S. policies abroad, and its 
long-term history of human rights violations all raise serious 
concerns. I have already taken public steps this session to toughen 
U.S. policy on the PRC by speaking out against religious persecution in 
China on the House floor, voting to limit satellite exports to China, 
voting to prohibit military-to-military exchanges with the People's 
Liberation Army, and implementing the recommendations of the Cox 
Report.
  Nevertheless, as someone who represents a state where the 
agricultural sector is vitally important to both our culture and our 
economy, I believe the expansion of markets within China for 
agricultural products is crucial. Our farmers face a crisis today. 
Commodity prices are at extraordinarily low levels as demand continues 
to lag behind supply worldwide. At the same time, Congress is 
encouraging our farmers to rely more and more on market forces, and 
less and less on old-style bureaucratic programs. A huge part of these 
market forces is dependent upon growth in our farm exports. The U.S. 
Department of Agriculture projects that 37 percent of the growth in our 
nation's farm exports could go to China by 2003. In other words, to 
restrict trade by suspending China's NTR status would take a key market 
away from our struggling farmers at an unfortunate time, likely driving 
agriculture prices even lower.
  In recent months, the U.S. Trade Representative has negotiated 
conditional agreements with China that would, among other things, 
dramatically reduce Chinese tariffs on U.S. cheese and ice cream 
exports. If NTR fails, these agreements are finished--giving Wisconsin 
farmers bad news at a time when bad news seems to be the order of the 
day.
  This has been a tough decision, one I have weighed for some time. 
There are valid and persuasive arguments on both sides of the NTR 
debate, and I can truly say this has been one of the most difficult 
issues I have faced since taking office. In the end, however, the 
issue's potential impact on agriculture tipped the scales in favor of 
renewing China's NTR status for another year.

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