(Arlington, VA) -- The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) this evening applauded President Clinton for strongly urging swift Congressional approval of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with China during his annual State-of-the-Union Address.

"Open trade with China - the world's biggest and single-most promising emerging market, with one billion potential customers - will play a critical role in keeping the U.S. economy moving forward," said EIA President Dave McCurdy, whose organization's number one legislative goal this year is the Congressional passage of permanent normal trade relations with China. "In tonight's State-of-the-Union Address, the President clearly demonstrated to the American people the need for early, bipartisan cooperation for this important legislation." Trade with China is vital to the growth of the electronics industry. In 1998, total U.S. electronics sales to China were an estimated $2.5 billion. Compared to just $1.3 billion in 1994, that is an annual increase of 17 percent. Industry analysts believe those growth rates will continue for many years to come.

According to the U.S. China Business Council, trade with China supports more than 200,000 directly-related manufacturing and service-sector jobs in the United States, and U.S. imports from China help generate employment in the United States in transportation, distribution, retail, financial services, and other sectors. McCurdy continued, "The President's leadership on this issue is extremely crucial as is his vocal support when this measure is introduced in the coming weeks."

Earlier this month, during a speech regarding foreign policy and national security, Speaker of the House Denny Hastert (R-IL) also made it clear that PNTR with China is a top priority in the upcoming session of Congress.

EIA will soon kick-off of its campaign-style Hill strategy aimed at persuading Members of Congress to support approval of PNTR with China. EIA's effort will feature a wide array of activities ranging from coordinated direct lobbying of lawmakers, to a public relations campaign, to a high-tech grassroots campaign.

Comprised of more than 2,100 members, EIA represents 80 percent of the $550 billion U.S. electronics industry. EIA's sector associations and members represent consumer electronics, telecommunications, components, government electronics, semiconductor standards, as well as many other vital areas of the U.S. electronics industry. The Electronic Industries Alliance: electronic and high-tech associations and companies committed to shared knowledge and shared influence