WASHINGTON, May 17, 2000 – U.S. Rep. Phil English agreed to support China trade legislation offered by the Clinton administration after the Ways and means Committee amended the proposal to include bipartisan provisions authored by U.S. Reps. Sandy Levin and Doug Bereuter which prevent Chinese imports from flooding U.S. markets while addressing labor and human rights issues.

 “This debate should be about ensuring that China plays by the rules in trade and that they honor commitments made in this agreement,” English said .“While China develops a free market and rule of law it is necessary to maintain careful scrutiny.”

 English embraced bipartisan legislation introduced by Levin (D-Mich.) and Bereuter (R-Neb.) that addressed concerns such as human rights and a the fear of a surge of imports from China. He also played a significant role in persuading House leadership to consider the bill in addition to Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China.

 English voted for PNTR with the trade provisions of the Levin-Bereuter plan incorporated into the bill Wednesday in the Ways and Means Committee. The committee passed the measure with a vote of 34-4.  Since the Ways and Means Committee jurisdiction is limited to trade, the human rights and labor issues are to be addressed in separate committee action prior to the full House considering the bill sometime next week.

 “The Levin-Bereuter plan provides an effective means for maintaining pressure on China on human rights, labor issues and the rules of law,” English said. “We have addressed the legitimate concerns expressed on these issues.”

 The Levin-Bereuter plan spells out how the anti-surge safeguards in the PNTR agreement will be implemented in U.S. law. It establishes a special procedure for U.S. employers and its workers to seek and obtain relief under safeguards specific to China. Employers may file a petition with the International Trade Commission so that a determination can be made as to whether the imports in question are causing or threatening U.S. employers and workers. The entire period from petition to proclamation of relief would be 150 days.

 “We must understand that there are two pillars that support the international trading system,” English said. “Today we dealt with only the first of these pillars -- open markets. We must remember the second pillar – unfair trade. The WTO and U.S. support free trade, but free trade must also be fair trade. The Levin-Bereuter provisions not only ensure the Chinese play by the rules, but more importantly, strengthen U.S. law to provide quick and effective weapons if there is a violation.”

 The plan establishes a joint Congressional-Executive branch Commission on China which will be responsible for monitoring China. The commission will submit an annual report to Congress and the President on its findings that judges China’s compliance with it’s commitments made in connection with the PNTR agreement. The commission will also serve as a mechanism for direct communication with victims of human rights abuses. 

 “Because of our previous experience with such commissions, I think establishing one to keep watch over China will be a useful way of maintaining scrutiny and pressure on China in areas such as worker and human rights,” English said. “The commission will be a strong, effective and unique point of contact on China issues between Congress and the administration.”

 The Levin Bereuter plan also monitors and promotes enforcement of laws that prohibit importing products made by forced or prison labor. It provides wide-ranging provisions that increase the ability of the United States to monitor and enforce China's obligations in international trade agreements.

 “We must ensure that if we open the doors conditionally to China that we are not undermined by unfair trade,” English said. “Granting PNTR does not end the debate on China or on how strict our policy needs to be when dealing with China.”

 Pennsylvania exported more than $219.5 million of goods to China in 1998, according to the Business Roundtable. PNTR forces China to tear down tariff barriers that have prevented even larger Pennsylvania exports.

 “Trade with China already provides jobs in Pennsylvania,” English said. “With the stringent controls provided in Levin-Bereuter, China has to lower tariffs while the United States does not have to change ours. That translates into more jobs for not only Pennsylvania but America.”