(Arlington, VA) -- The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) today praised Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott for making open trade with China a top agenda item for the U.S. Senate.

"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 swift Congressional passage of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with China.

"Majority Leader Lott's vocal support for open trade with China is extremely crucial as is his leadership when this measure is considered in the Senate," McCurdy said. "By making trade a top agenda item for the Senate, the Majority Leader sent a clear signal to the U.S. high-tech industry." Trade with China is vital to the growth and continued global competitiveness of the high-tech electronics industry. In 1998, total U.S. electronics sales to China were an estimated $2.5 billion. Compared to $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.

Last month, during a speech regarding foreign policy and national security, Speaker of the House Denny Hastert (R-IL) made it clear that PNTR with China is a top priority in the upcoming session of Congress, and President Clinton made open trade with China a focal point in his recent State-of-the-Union Address.

EIA will soon launch its campaign-style Hill strategy aimed at persuading Members of Congress to support swift 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: a partnership of electronic and high-tech associations and companies committed to shared knowledge and shared influence