Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
June 24, 2000
SECTION: TRADE; Pg. 1991; Vol. 32, No. 26
LENGTH: 205 words
HEADLINE:
Senate Likely to Vote on PNTR in July
BYLINE: Stephen Norton/CongressDaily
BODY:
Senate Majority
Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., on June 20
signaled that the Senate will act on
legislation granting
permanent normal trade relations to China before the
August
recess. His move followed intense pressure from colleagues of
both parties and from business groups and the Clinton
Administration.
Lott continued to echo the admonition of Senate
Appropriations Committee
Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, that
spending bills should come first, but
indicated a greater
willingness to act on the China PNTR
bill before September.
Earlier on June 20, President Clinton met with Senate
Democrats
who support the bill and phoned Lott directly to make the case
for a prompt vote. Lott still faces a potential challenge from
Sen. Fred
D. Thompson, R-Tenn., who is insisting as part of the
PNTR
debate that the Senate consider his bill seeking to stem
weapons
proliferation efforts by the Chinese. Any Senate changes
to the House-passed
China PNTR bill would mean a House-Senate
conference and
another House vote-a scenario dreaded by PNTR
supporters.
Meanwhile, the House on June 21 defeated, 56-363,
legislation seeking to end
U.S. membership in the World Trade
Organization.
LOAD-DATE: June 23, 2000 
