Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
May 6, 2000
SECTION: TRADE; Pg. 1450; Vol. 32, No. 19
LENGTH: 203 words
HEADLINE:
China PNTR Supporters Nose Ahead
BYLINE: Charlie Mitchell/CongressDaily
BODY:
Both sides in the
China trade debate emerged from the
recent congressional recess with new
trophies to brag about, but
the competition for House votes remains
extremely close,
according to the latest CongressDaily survey. House members
who
favor granting China permanent normal trade relations have nosed
ahead, with 148 favoring PNTR, 146 opposed, and 115
publicly
undecided. The remaining members declined comment for the survey.
The biggest prize for PNTR supporters was the decision by
Rep.
Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., to come out in favor of the measure on May
2. Hoyer had opposed the annual renewal of China's trade
privileges, but
he called PNTR "an opportunity to move our
relationship
forward and to move China toward political openness,
market economics, the
rule of law, and respect for basic human
rights." Hoyer, a co-chairman of
the Democratic Steering
Committee, becomes the highest-ranking House
Democrat to endorse
PNTR. Supporters also believe a plan to
monitor China's labor and
human-rights record, circulated by Rep. Sander M.
Levin, D-Mich.,
will generate additional Democratic backers before the
House's
scheduled vote during the week of May 22.
LOAD-DATE: May 9, 2000 
