Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
May 20, 2000
SECTION: TRADE; Pg. 1610; Vol. 32, No. 21
LENGTH: 237 words
HEADLINE:
China Trade Bill Gets a Boost
BYLINE: Charlie
Mitchell/CongressDaily
BODY:
Advocates of
granting permanent normal trade relations to China
were somewhat more
optimistic this week that they will prevail,
although both sides said they
are fighting for every vote in the
run-up to the House's May 24 or 25
debate. Rep. Robert T. Matsui
of California, the House Democrats' chief
pro-PNTR vote-counter,
said on May 17, "Right now, I
believe we are on our way to
victory." President Clinton on May 18 sought to
quell any
giddiness among PNTR supporters, saying,
"Momentum is building,
but we've still got a challenging fight." He will
give a
nationally televised address on May 21. The bill got a big boost
when the House Ways and Means Committee voted 34-4 for passage on
May
17. Provisions to guard U.S. markets against surges in
Chinese imports
brought all but four committee Democrats on
board. The Rules Committee may
add additional language on human
rights issues prior to the House vote.
PNTR opponents downplayed
the Ways and Means vote. "It's
touch and go, and no side is
really ahead," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi,
D-Calif., a leading
opponent. "The big deal about Ways and Means is
ridiculous-you
could have predicted that.... There are 18-20 undecided
Democrats
(and it is) coming down to that." CongressDaily's latest survey
found 180 members publicly favoring or leaning in favor of
PNTR,
161 opposing or leaning against, and 94 undecided.
LOAD-DATE: May 23, 2000 
