[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 41 (Thursday, March 7, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 CHINA

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, finally, on China, news reports continue 
to suggest that President Trump is close to cementing an agreement with 
Beijing that, unfortunately for America and for American workers, would 
fall far right of expectations.
  Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that China is drafting 
new laws on foreign investments to pacify the United States, but those 
new laws do not include any changes to how China forces American 
businesses to transfer technology and know-how as the cost of doing 
business.
  If our best companies were allowed to sell to China unfettered, they 
would have huge amounts of profit, and they would employ huge amounts 
of people in America more. China doesn't let that happen, but they can 
sell freely here.
  The President was right to target China. The President was right to 
impose tariffs on China. The President will have taken defeat out of 
the jaws of an almost victory if he now backs off for the sake of a 
photo op or some brief changes in what China purchases and forsakes 
American wealth and American workers, while China is stealing our 
wealth and jobs from our workers every single day.
  If President Trump accepts a short-term purchase of American goods in 
exchange for a reduction in our tariffs without structural reform to 
China's predatory trade practices, shame on him. If he thinks that 
photo op will help him; it will not. If he thinks a temporary, little 
bump in China buying more soybeans or more steel products will help; it 
will not. He will lose because one of the best things he has done--
something I, many other Democrats, and many other Americans have 
praised him for--will be gone. I have publicly given the President 
credit when he has taken on China.
  As I said, Americans have lost millions--trillions--of dollars of 
wealth and millions of jobs to Chinese IP theft. The President has been 
right to challenge China on those issues. His tariffs have brought 
China to the negotiating table, but now that China is at the table, 
President Trump must not walk away without achieving what he set out to 
achieve.
  In short, to cut an unacceptable deal--a weak deal, a photo-op deal--
at this stage would be to squander the historic moment to put American 
businesses, workers, and inventors on a level playing field at long 
last, and it would be viewed as a capitulation by the President on one 
of his signature issues. It would be the inverse of what he did on 
North Korea.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Hyde-Smith). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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