US Politicians Urge Congress to Pass PNTR with ChinaThe United States will miss out lots of opportunities if US Congress fails to grant China the permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status, Senator Max Baucus said."China will join the WTO, whether or not the United States gives it PNTR status," the Montanan Democratic said at a luncheon hosted by American Enterprise Institute in Washington Friday. Baucus said in a speech that the bilateral WTO agreement signed last November provides enormous potential economic benefit to the United States. However, European and Japanese competitors will reap benefits from China's trade liberalization, and US workers, farmers and manufacturers will lose lots of opportunities if the US Congress fails to pass the PNTR bill, said Baucus. He also pointed out that PNTR should not be tied with non-trade issues. "I never believe that unilateral sanctions will be effective in changing the behavior of a nation in non-trade areas, and the history has proved it," said the senator. Meanwhile, Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist Saturday expressed his support of permanent normal trade with China. He argued in the Republicans' weekly address that Congress should agree to PNTR with China to ensure that Americans gain business opportunities in the world's biggest and most important emerging market. Michigan Governor Engler, another Republican, said in an interview with the reporter that he definitely supports the PNTR with China. In mid-April, Mr. Engler led a state delegation to visit Shanghai, where General Motor Corporation has set up a joint- venture factory. Sundquist and Engler's views were reported to be popular among state governors, 43 of whom signed a letter to House and Senate leaders last week in support of the permanent normal trade with China. A House vote is expected in two weeks. If it passes, the Senate likely would take it up next month. |
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