Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
June 10, 2000
SECTION: TRADE; Pg. 1831; Vol. 32, No. 24
LENGTH: 241 words
HEADLINE:
China Trade Bill May Be on a Slow Boat
BYLINE: Stephen
Norton/CongressDaily
BODY:
Organized labor and other foes of permanent normal trade
relations for
China, who are trying to slow things up in the
Senate, may have gotten a
little help this week from an unlikely
ally: Senate Majority Leader Trent
Lott, R-Miss. The GOP leader
hinted that the trade bill might not come
before the Senate until
much more work is completed on the annual
appropriations bills.
But using PNTR as a club in the
struggle with Democrats over
spending issues is not popular among members of
the Senate
Finance Committee. On June 7, committee leaders emerged from a
closed-door session to announce that they are willing to forgo a
chance
to review provisions involving human rights and import
surge protections
that the House added before approving the PNTR
legislation
last month. A group of moderate Senate Democrats, who
are eager to get the
PNTR bill to the President's desk, also
announced that they
are willing to pass up a chance to offer
amendments. A delay on the bill
could open up possibilities for
amendments, and that would mean a conference
committee with the
House and another vote in that chamber-something
PNTR supporters
want to avoid. The business community is
working hard to keep the
bill moving, and despite the posturing from Lott
and others,
Finance Chairman William V. Roth Jr., R-Del., expressed hope
that
the Senate will approve the bill before the July 4 recess.
LOAD-DATE: June 13, 2000 
