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Helping the Cause Passing PNTR for China this spring will require a very strong lobbying effort on Capitol Hill on behalf of U.S. industry. Currently, TIA is active with several industry groups and expects to see a positive outcome when the vote eventually takes place, hopefully in the next few months. TIA President Matthew J. Flanigan met with Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and House Commerce Committee Chairman Thomas Bliley (R-Va.) during the week of February 28 to discuss several issues being addressed by the 106th Congress. Among other issues, TIA urged the leaders to take action to expedite China's entry into the WTO and to grant China PNTR status. Flanigan and other trade association presidents also met separately with Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) on March 3 to discuss trade with China, as well as the status of WTO issues and the climate in Washington for the vote. As part of the Washington, D.C.-based High Tech Coalition on China, numerous high-tech trade associations have created materials to send to congressional offices explaining the benefits of China's accession to the WTO. The high-tech industry also has held several briefings for congressional staff to underscore the industry's commitment to doing business in China and to passing PNTR this spring. In addition to TIA lobbying on this effort, TIA has developed a draft letter for member companies to use in writing to Congress regarding China issues. TIA also urges CEOs to sign on to a TIA-generated letter that will be circulated to members of Congress and to send TIA comments on how China's accession to the WTO will affect their business. For more information, please contact Christine Keck at (202) 383-1482 or email ckeck@tia.eia.org. Visit the China PNTR section of TIA's Web site at www.tiaonline.org/international/regional/asia/wto.cfm. 1By an act of Congress, most favored nation (MFN) status was changed to normal trade relations (NTR) in 1998. Page
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