Urgent Action Alert:

NO BLANK CHECK FOR CHINA!

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May 5, 2000

Due to serious environmental concerns, the Sierra Club urges you to contact your US congressional representative to oppose permanent normal trade relations (NTR) with China. Please act soon. Representatives are deciding their positions now for a vote scheduled to take place on May 25.

To contact your Representative, dial (202) 224-3121 for the US Capitol switchboard. Or write to The Honorable [name of your Rep.], US House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515.

Why Reject Permanent NTR?

Permanent NTR would terminate Congress' annual review of the US-China commercial relationship just as that relationship becomes riskier than ever. Under a US-China bilateral agreement concluded last November, China could soon join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Yet, the US-China trade deal lacks any provisions whatever to address the impacts of increased trade on working people, human rights, and the environment.

Environmental Impacts

First, once it becomes a member of the WTO, China's undemocratic government could doom efforts to make global trade rules more democratic and environmentally sensitive. By relinquishing annual review of the US-China commercial relationship, the United States would have little leverage to influence China on WTO issues. If China blocks WTO reform, it would lock into place global trade rules that have already been used to attack food safety, clean air, and wildlife protections as "illegal trade barriers."

Second, without annual review, the United States would have little leverage to protect the human rights of environmental activists in China. Chinese environmental activists are already targets of abuse. A well-known example is Dai Qing, who was harassed and imprisoned for speaking out against the Three Gorges Dam. This massive dam would ruin one of China's most important rivers and displace hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.

Third, the WTO/Permanent NTR package could increase pressure on some of the world's most threatened and endangered species. Already, smugglers have turned China into the world's largest market for black market endangered species parts. China's illegal trade in animal parts now threatens Asian tigers, African rhinos, and North American black bears. Increased trade flows under the WTO/Permanent NTR package would only increase opportunities to traffic in contraband animal parts.

By rejecting permanent NTR, the United States would not be turning its back on China. Instead, the United States would retain the right to review our commercial ties on an annual basis, helping to ensure that environmental protection and human rights are not left behind in the rush to increase trade.

Sierra Club's Responsible Trade Program (202) 675-2387

dan.seligman@sierraclub.org

www.sierraclub.org/trade