For Immediate Release:		For More Information, Contact:
Oct. 10, 2000		Katie Burnham (202) 454-5102

China WTO Accession Talks Jammed,
But Clinton Signs China PNTR Grant Anyway

After Months of Marinating in $113 Million of Corporate Cash, Some in Congress Now Grow Nervous as Absence of China WTO Accession Terms Is Revealed

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The serious political and policy fallout for boosters of granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to China became clear today as problems stalling agreement on the terms of China's WTO accession hung over the PNTR bill-signing ceremony.

To obtain support for the controversial measure, the White House assured many in Congress that it had locked down all of China's WTO concessions - which, in fact, it had not.

"For those in Congress who supported PNTR while under the influence of corporate cash and administration promises, it must be sobering to watch the president sign away Congress' China trade authority knowing that their constituents will hold them responsible for results of some yet-unknown China WTO deal," said Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch.

Corporate interests spent more than $113 million in an unprecedented campaign to persuade Congress to grant PNTR to China despite Harris polling showing 79 percent public opposition from the U.S. public, according to a study released last week by Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch.

As the results of China PNTR become more and more apparent, pro-PNTR votes will become more politically toxic than pro-NAFTA votes, Wallach said. The three weeks since Senate passage of PNTR provides a preview of coming attractions: Since the Senate passed PNTR, the regime in China has intensified its vicious crackdown on the Falun Gong, tightened its anti-free-speech control over the Internet, refused to join the Missile Technology Control Regime, clamped down on freedom of the press, and charged the Pope with "severe crimes" for canonizing Chinese Catholics.

The legislation being signed today was pushed not because it is sound policy but because special interest backers plied Congress with at least $113 million in lobbying, advertising and political donations. It is time to take the corrupting influence of money out of the political process to ensure we have a government that responds to the will of the people instead of just the desires of corporate interests, Wallach said.

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