DISAPPROVING EXTENSION OF NONDISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT TO PRODUCTS OF
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 30,
1999)
[Page: E1699]
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SPEECH OF
HON. NANCY L. JOHNSON
OF CONNECTICUT
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1999
- Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to
this resolution. Denying NTR to China will undermine United States economic
interests. It is our twelfth largest market and China increased imports from
the United States 11 percent last year, all products made by highly skilled
workers earning high wages.
- Connecticut exports to China in 1998 totaled more than 301 million ranking
it tenth in the Nation. Connecticut businesses and its workers have a direct
interest in maintaining normal trading relations with China and with further
opening China's markets. With a quarter of the world's population and the
third largest economy, China's buying power will grow tremendously in the
years ahead. If we do not engage this emerging major market, other nations
will replace U.S. companies and through the significant resulting profits gain
a competitive advantage over us. That has already happened in the helicopter
market through shortsighted American policy.
- Mr. Speaker, it is just a fact that China is making quiet but significant
progress in many areas. Unlike Russia, China has recognized the need to
recapitalize their state-owned businesses and has gradually sold many to
foreign companies. They are modernizing their economy without the level of
unemployment, crime, and turmoil that has plagued other communist nations
faced with this challenge.
- Furthermore, western companies have brought management practices to China
that develop individual initiative and respect workers' ideas. They have
brought more stringent health safety and environmental standards accomplishing
goals like reducing industrial waste 35 percent and harmful air emissions 36
percent, as did Carrier since 1995.
- And western companies have brought more opportunity to workers through
benefits like Otis Elevator's home ownership program.
- In addition, China has had direct elections in half its villages, gaining
experience with secret ballots and multicandidate elections. In some
provinces, 40 percent of the candidates are young entrepreneurs and not
Communist Party members. In 1997, as part of the rule of law initiative the
training of legal aid lawyers began.
- In sum, China is modernizing its economy and governance through a process
that is harmonious with her long history and cultural traditions, but that
should not obscure the growth of values in common with people in the west. It
should certainly not obscure our common interest in the growth of trade
between our nations based on the principles that undergird the WTO
relationships. By renewing NTR and working with China to enter WTO we can help
China adopt free and fair trade policies. Lower tariffs make our goods more
affordable. Distribution rights under WTO will provide access to customers.
Good for China, good for us.
- I urge renewal of the normal trade relations with China and opposition to
this resolution of disapproval.
END