[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 19 (Monday, February 28, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS FOR CHINA

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I would like to respond to comments made 
over the past week in the press and elsewhere questioning Vice 
President Gore's support of the superb agreement negotiated by 
Ambassador Barshefsky with China as part of the WTO accession process. 
I have spoken with the Vice President. I am totally confident that he 
fully supports the Administration's position. He believes that the 
bilateral agreement is an excellent one. He believes that it is vital 
that the Congress approve permanent normal trade relations status as 
early as possible this year.
  The Vice President sent a letter outlining his position to Jerry 
Jasinowski, President of the National Association of Manufacturers, on 
February 18. I ask unanimous consent that this letter be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                                February 18, 2000.
     Mr. Jerry Jasinowski,
     President, National Association of Manufacturers, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Jerry: As our country turns its attention to the issue 
     of trade, and whether Congress should approve permanent, 
     normalized trade relations with China, I want to share my 
     views.
       As I have said publicly and privately, I support the 
     agreement reached by our Administration on the terms under 
     which China will be permitted to accede to the World Trade 
     Organization. This agreement was negotiated in order to 
     secure economic and security benefits. Specifically, this 
     agreement obtains meaningful benefits for American workers 
     and companies by expanding and opening the Chinese market. 
     Moreover, this agreement will advance our goal of opening up 
     China to the world. I believe that Congress should enact 
     legislation to secure these goals--in the form in which they 
     have been negotiated--this year.
       I want you to also understand that I firmly believe in fair 
     and balanced trade agreements. And I agree with President 
     Clinton that future trade negotiations ought to include in 
     the fabric of the agreement both labor and environmental 
     components. Moreover, as I have publicly said to both 
     business and labor audiences, in the future I will insist on 
     the authority to enforce workers' rights and environmental 
     protections in those agreements.
           Sincerely,
                                                          Al Gore.

  In this letter, the Vice President made his position clear: ``I 
believe the Congress should enact legislation to secure these goals--in 
the form in which they have been negotiated--this year.'' A simple, 
unambiguous, clear, and direct statement.
  I don't understand what the ruckus is all about, and why this issue 
took on such undue proportions at the Senate Finance Committee hearing 
last Wednesday. The Vice President's remarks were clear. Ambassador 
Barshefsky's explanation of the Vice President's position was equally 
clear.
  As far as I am concerned, this issue is closed. Those of us leading 
the effort in the Congress to secure passage of PNTR this year know 
that the Vice President will be fully engaged on this issue, along with 
the President, Ambassador Barshefsky, Secretary Daley, and other 
members of the Cabinet. We all need to devote our attention now to 
prompt passage of PNTR.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________