Humane Society of the United States


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 6, 2000

HSUS ANNOUNCES OPPOSITION TO PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA

Humane Society of the United States Plans Capitol Hill Demonstration April 12

Washington, DC – The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation's largest animal protection organization with over 7.5 million members and constituents, today announced its opposition to granting permanent "normal trade relations" to China. Congress is expected to vote on the issue next month. Approving permanent normal trade relations would eliminate the annual Congressional review of the U.S.-China trade status and remove an important tool for encouraging China to protect animals.

The HSUS says that free trade, while potentially improving economic conditions in China and other nations, also undermines animal protection efforts. Laws protecting depleted dolphin populations, endangered sea turtles, wild animals trapped for their fur, animals used in cosmetics testing and other animals are threatened under the World Trade Organization, which has ruled that animal protection laws represent unfair barriers to free trade. The HSUS organized peaceful protests during the WTO meeting in Seattle and, along with the Animal Welfare Institute, dressed protesters in sea turtle costumes to highlight the plight of these and other animals.

"China's record on animal protection is abysmal," said Patricia Forkan, HSUS executive vice president. "The protestors in Seattle demonstrated that the American people do not want free trade if the price includes extinction and animal suffering."

The HSUS cites the following examples of China's poor record on animal protection:

Investigations conducted by The HSUS in 1998 and 1999 in China documented the widespread killing of dogs and cats for their fur. An estimated two million dogs and cats are killed by extremely inhumane methods for this international trade.
Trade in bear, tiger and rhino parts flourishes in China despite international agreements and domestic laws prohibiting such sales. Several of these species are highly endangered due in large part to the Asian medicinal trade.
China harbors an extensive illegal ivory trade network that undermines international efforts to protect elephants.

Forkan says that granting China permanent normal trade relation status will undoubtedly lead agri-businesses to move operations from the United States to China to avoid U.S. environmental, animal protection, labor and safety regulations. "Not only will American consumers unknowingly purchase and consume meat, eggs and dairy products produced under conditions inhumane for both people and animals, the likely growth of agri-business in China may lead to a collapse of the already fragile U.S. farm economy."

The HSUS and AWI are organizing a peaceful demonstration against granting permanent normal trade relations to China on April 12 on the East steps of the Capitol. Demonstrators dressed in sea turtle costumes will rally from noon to 1:00 p.m.