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US Senate to Vote on China Trade Bill Next Week
The US Senate on Thursday rejected the last six proposed amendments to a bill granting a permanent normal trade relations status (PNTR) to China, and is scheduled to vote on the legislation next Tuesday.
Since it began debates on the legislation on September 5, the Senate have defeated a total of 19 amendments trying to link the PNTR bill with human rights, prison labor, abortion, weapons proliferation and other issues.
One of the six amendments defeated on Thursday was a measure proposed by Senator Ernest Hollings on trade deficits with China.
The biggest hurdle to the passage of an amendment-free PNTR bill was cleared on Wednesday when the Senate defeated by a vote of 65-32 an amendment proposed by Senator Fred Thompson and Senator Robert Torricelli on weapons proliferation.
Senators have agreed to hold a six-hour closing debate before Tuesday's historic vote on the legislation, which would bring an end to the annual review of China's trade status if signed into law.
The bill, approved by the House of Representatives 237-197 in May this year, is strongly supported by most senators, the Clinton administration and the business community eager to do business with China.
Supporters of the bill are now more confident that it would carry the Senate by a large margin on September 19.
White House spokesman Jake Siewert said that about 70 of the 100 Senators have publicly expressed their support to the bill.
"It's a done deal," said Myron Brilliant, managing director for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
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