U.S. Commerce Secretary Calls For Granting PNTR to ChinaU.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley again called on Congress Tuesday to grant the permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status to China. In a testimony to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Daley said the vote on PNTR "is one of the most important economic and political issues that I think the nation will face in not only this year but over the next couple of years".Describing the U.S.-China trade agreement a "strong win for the United States", the secretary said it will present tremendous opportunities for American businesses and American working men and women over the next years. Delay, who led Clinton administration's efforts to lobby for PNTR in Congress, disclosed that this week President Clinton will release much more detailed information on opportunities that the agreement will provide for workers in all 50 states. He said that permanent status is required to meet U.S. obligations to treat all World Trade Organization (WTO) members, and this vote will not be on whether China joins WTO. "This vote will determine whether we enjoy the economic benefits created by China's WTO membership." The vote will not affect whether the Chinese will have access to the U.S. market, rather it will give U.S. access to the Chinese market, he said. House Speaker Dennis Hastert has announced that the House will vote on PNTR with China in the week of May 22nd. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott has also promised a vote in the Senate immediately after the Memorial Day (May 29) recess. John McCain, Chairman of the committee, said that an important trade partner with aspirations of increasing influence throughout the Asia Pacific region, China will remain at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy discussions for the foreseeable future. "With China's entry into the WTO and implementation of the terms of the November 1999 trade agreement, the United States stands to benefit substantially, benefits that will be felt by industry and American labor alike," he said. McCain said that since the introduction of economic reforms in 1979, China's economy has emerged as one of the fastest growing in the world. |
| Please visit People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |