AmCham Delegation Back to HK From PNTR MissionSupporters of the drive to grant China the permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status with the United States made considerable progress in their efforts last week, according to a high-level delegation from the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Monday.While Congressional passage is not yet assured, the delegation is encouraged that momentum is in the direction of a positive vote, said the delegation that has just returned from an advocacy mission in Washington DC. "From our intensive series of meetings on Capitol Hill last week, we are convinced that it's going to be a very close vote. Neither proponents nor opponents can confirm the 218 votes required to win in the House," said Richard Kahler, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham) and head of the delegation to Washington DC. According to National Journal's Congress Daily, a poll of the 435-member Congress indicated that 180 members were "yes/leaning yes," 161 were "no/leaning no" while 94 were "undecided/no response." The joint delegation from Hong Kong and Shanghai, in a final push on PNTR, was in Washington DC from May 15-19. A total of 120 meetings were held over the five days with members of the House and Senate as well as key administration officials from the U.S. Departments of Commerce and State, the National Security Council, the Pentagon, and the office of the United States Trade Representative. |
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