May 2000 PulseOnline: TIA Around the Globe: PNTR Vote Set for End of May (Page 2 of 2)

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Due to the hard work of the negotiators, China will enter the WTO just as soon as the remaining countries finalize their accession packages with China -- which is likely to happen by the end of the year -- and the protocol (the rules by which China will enter the WTO) is negotiated in Geneva directly afterwards. Ironically, if the Congress does not approve PNTR this year, overseas competitors will receive the benefits of the November 15 agreement, while U.S. companies are shut out.

The High-Tech Lobbying Effort
TIA President Matthew J. Flanigan met with Speaker of the House Hastert and House Commerce Committee Chairman Thomas Bliley (R-Va.) at the end of February 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 met separately with Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) in early March to discuss trade with China, as well as the status of WTO issues and the climate in Washington for the vote.

A letter signed by 200 high-tech CEOs was sent to Congress on April 3. President Clinton, in a speech that day in San Jose, Calif., quoted from the letter, emphasizing that "this vote is an absolute priority for high-tech companies and the most critical vote Congress will take on high technology this year." In addition, a press conference was held April 11 in Washington, D.C., with the message that high-tech firmly supports PNTR for China because it is good for industry, creates new jobs and strengthens U.S. exports well into the future.

As part of the Washington, D.C.-based High Tech Coalition on China, numerous high-tech trade associations have drafted materials to send to congressional offices explaining the benefits of China's accession to the WTO. The high-tech industry also 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 the work that TIA will do in this regard, it is imperative that members of Congress also hear directly from their constituents. TIA encourages interested parties to visit the home page of the Electronic Industries Alliance (http://www.eia.org/), which has set up a quick and easy way to send congressional representatives a letter via the Web. Visitors can use a pre-written template or write their own letter. After they input their postal code, the software will deliver the letter to the appropriate representatives.

For additional information on this issue, please contact TIA Director of Asia-Pacific Programs 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.

¹ Parallel legislation refers to a bill put forward as part of a legislative package on a certain issue. It does not interfere with the main piece of legislation, but is related to it in some close way. The parallel piece creates conditions that surround the main issue.