[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         GRANTING CHINA PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS (PNTR)

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 30, 2000

  Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, a great nation has to stand on its 
principles. If it fails to do so, it is diminished. The Cold War and 
our policy toward South Africa are just two examples of policy based 
upon our nation's bedrock principles. Such an opportunity will 
apparently present itself this year with the anticipated vote in 
Congress on granting permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with 
China.
  After months of studying the issues; after dozens of meetings with 
various groups and individuals on both sides of the issue, such as the 
Chinese Ambassador to the United States, business leaders from 
Montgomery County, human rights activists and labor leaders; I have 
decided to oppose granting PNTR to China at this time.
  Fair trade and economic growth in this new economy are very important 
to me, but not at the expense of the principles for which this country 
stands.
  I remain committed to free and fair trade. I cosponsored and voted 
for the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act in both the International 
Relations Committee and on the floor of the House, and I hope to vote 
for it again when it is reported out of conference committee. I also 
cosponsored another free trade measure for Africa called the ``Hope for 
Africa Act.'' Last year, I supported granting a one-year extension of 
normal trade relations (NTR) with China. I support a comprehensive 
engagement with China that includes free and fair trade, but only after 
China has demonstrated a willingness to become a responsible member of 
the world community.
  By granting China PNTR, we surrender the only effective economic and 
political tool to effect positive change in China--the annual vote to 
renew NTR. Without this, China has little reason to improve its actions 
and image in the world community.
  There have been too many broken promises by the Chinese government. 
There are too many protesters in prison. There are too many religious 
persecutions. There are too many military threats.
  China's record on human and workers' rights continues to be 
abominable. Take for instance the story of Liu Baiqiang. While serving 
a 10-year sentence for theft, Baiqiang, in support of the 1989 pro-
democracy movement, wrote messages calling for freedom and the end of 
tyranny on scraps of paper and released them into the air attached to 
the legs of locusts. For this he was sentenced to an additional eight 
years in prison.
  The leadership in China continue to threaten Taiwan, even at a time 
when we are considering PNTR, just because Taiwan practices democracy. 
China continues to develop and contribute to the proliferation of 
missile and nuclear technology, exporting it to rogue nations around 
the world. China continues to violate environmental standards for 
development and industry, ignores fair labor standards and safe working 
conditions and uses child, low wage and even slave labor to produce 
many goods for export.
  Finally, China has yet to live up to any of the previous trade 
agreements it has signed with the United States. I am not convinced 
that China will be any more likely to change this behavior once it is 
granted PNTR status.
  I firmly support a renegotiation of the terms of the U.S.-China 
bilateral treaty that would provide greater safeguards against Chinese 
abuses and outlaw behavior. I have participated in two working groups 
established by Members of Congress that are striving to identify the 
issues that should be renegotiated and ways to initiate the 
renegotiation.
  A treaty that provides a free and fair trade agreement with 
safeguards that could better guarantee appropriate Chinese behavior in 
the world community would receive my full support.
  Granting China PNTR now might be economically rewarding, but it would 
be morally bankrupting.

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