Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
September 9, 2000
SECTION: TRADE; Pg. 2794; Vol. 32, No. 37
LENGTH: 170 words
HEADLINE:
China Trade Bill Finally Near Finish Line
BYLINE:
Stephen Norton/CongressDaily
BODY:
By a 92-5 vote, the Senate agreed on Sept. 7 to begin
formal
debate on legislation granting permanent normal trade
relations to China,
and Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., has
said he hopes for a final vote
by the end of next week. A dozen
or more amendments are pending, but
attention continues to focus
on a proposal by Sen. Fred D. Thompson,
R-Tenn., aimed at
stemming the proliferation of Chinese nuclear weapons.
Thompson
remained defiant about offering his amendment, saying it is a
choice between boosting trade and preserving national security.
In the
meantime, Sens. Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-Del., and John F.
Kerry, D-Mass., are
working on an alternative proposal designed
to address weapons proliferation
concerns while not tying the
President's hands, as they argue Thompson's
bill would. Members
of both parties are trying to keep the issues separate
to make
sure that the Senate passes the identical China
PNTR legislation
that the House passed in May.
LOAD-DATE: September 11, 2000
