Clinton to tout China trade in State of the Union

(State of the Proposed Union with China speech...)

WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Bill Clinton will use Thursday's State of the Union address to highlight the benefits of a trade agreement with China, as the White House steps up pressure on Congress to approve the pact.

Administration officials said Clinton's comments will be part of a broad campaign to convince lawmakers to support an agreement that would open a wide range of Chinese markets and clear the way for Beijing to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"There is no better venue for the president to explain just how good this agreement is for American ranchers, farmers, business people and workers," White House spokesman Jake Siewert said of the State of the Union.

Clinton has already sent letters to lawmakers, arguing the market-opening accord would encourage Beijing to improve human rights and speed the pace of economic reform.

Commerce Secretary William Daley will lay out the administration's position in a speech scheduled for Wednesday at the U.S.-China Business Council, officials said. Clinton has tapped Daley and deputy White House chief of staff Steve Ricchetti to lead the lobbying effort.(Paid lobbyist. Hmmm, for who???)

In exchange for China reducing barriers in everything from agriculture to telecommunications, Clinton must persuade Congress (Paid lobbyist. Hmmm, for who???) to grant Beijing favorable access to U.S. markets, so-called permanent normal trade relations status.

Permanent normal trade relations would guarantee Chinese goods the same low-tariff access to U.S. markets as products from nearly every other nation.

Without it, U.S. businesses could not benefit from China's commitment to roll back tariffs and other trade barriers while foreign companies capitalize on China's new-found openness.

"We must do it to encourage China along the path of domestic reform, human rights, the rule of law and international cooperation," Clinton said in a letter to lawmakers on Tuesday. "I will make it a top priority in the new year to seek congressional support." [He does mean This year, right???]



-- Possible Impact (posim@hotmail.com), January 25, 2000

fix bold

-- Possible Impact (posim@hotmail.com), January 25, 2000.

"There is no better venue for the president to explain just how

good this agreement is for American ranchers, farmers, business people and workers," White House spokesman Jake Siewert said of the State of the Union. -------------- Does he mean good for all of these folks like NAFTA was good for all these people?

excuse me, but in my rambling out in the country, looking for a rural property, and talking to real farmers and ranchers, NAFTA has nearly single-handedly been responsible for these folks losing their farms and ranches. Would this be good for factory workers here, to see their jobs go to chinese for 1/10 the wages they are paid?

Now Clinton wants us to believe him that this would be good for us!??? Well, it might be good for business men, but not producers like farmers, ranchers or workers who produce something *here*.

Right. Sure, and he never did sleep with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.

-- (formerly@nowhwere.zzz), January 25, 2000.

Nope, not a wink...

But on the China issue, I'm for free trade, but not in one direction only! It's got to be equal trade, as well...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), January 25, 2000.

At the rate it's been going, that oughta do wonders to move our balance of payments from waaay out of balance into the truly unbelievable territory. And, when foreign governments get even more nervous about the value of our currency, and start pulling back, the Plunge Protection Team is gonna be a little busy. Yeah, NAFTA and GATT have worked 'wonders' for the little folks. Lord help this government if those folks ever get cohesive!

-- Redeye in Ohio (cannot@work.com), January 26, 2000.