Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
February 19, 2000
SECTION: TRADE; Pg. 550; Vol. 32, No. 8
LENGTH: 194 words
HEADLINE:
Clinton Engages on China Trade Vote
BYLINE: Keith
Koffler/CongressDaily
BODY:
President Clinton this week turned up the heat on
Congress to approve
permanent normal trade relations status for
China by working over two sets
of House members at the White
House. The first gathering was a
rally-the-troops session for
about 20 PNTR backers,
including House Rules Committee Chairman
David Dreier, R-Calif., and Rep.
Robert T. Matsui, D-Calif. At
the second meeting, Clinton jawboned a small
delegation of House
Democrats who have traditionally voted for annual NTR
renewals
for China but might balk at making the arrangement permanent. Two
more such meetings are expected this month. Many pro-PNTR
business lobbyists, who receive frequent briefings from White
House
aides, say they believe Clinton is in the fight for real.
And the
President's efforts paid off with a gift from House
Speaker J. Dennis
Hastert, R-Ill., who vowed at a Feb. 15 news
conference to take an
"aggressive stance" to promote PNTR for
China and to hold a
vote on the issue in the "very near future."
A vote well before the election
could corral support from
Democrats who fear the wrath of labor, which
opposes PNTR.
LOAD-DATE: February 22,
2000 
