International Brotherhood of Teamsters

HOFFA, WU, REP. CHRIS SMITH DENOUNCE NTR STATUS FOR CHINA

Members of Congress, Union Leaders and Political Dissidents Discuss Congressional Hearings, Deliver Report

(WASHINGTON, DC) - International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and former Chinese political prisoner Harry Wu today denounced granting China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status.

"Rest assured that while Congress is debating the pros and cons of rewarding Communist China with permanent NTR status, the abuse of its citizens, its workers, its environment, and its neighbors will continue - and most likely escalate," Hoffa said.

The speakers were joined by Linda Chavez-Thompson, Executive Vice-President of the AFL-CIO, Bhuchung Tsering, Director of the International Campaign for Tibet, and Sonny Hall, President of the Transport Workers Union. In addition to Rep. Smith, other members of Congress attending were Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Rep. Peter Defazio (D-OR), Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Rep. Dennis Kuchinich (D-OH).

Following the press conference, Hoffa, Smith and Wu delivered copies of the State Department’s latest report on human rights abuses in China to U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky via Teamster tractor-trailer.

"Each and every member of Congress and the U.S. Trade Representative will have a copy of the State Department’s report on China delivered to them this afternoon by the Teamsters Union," Hoffa continued. "Our purpose in delivering the report is to ensure that everyone involved in the decision to grant Communist China permanent NTR status knows every detail of the Chinese human rights abuses."

Rep. Smith is the chairman of the House International Relations Subcommittee on Human Rights. The delivery to the United States Trade Representative’s office was followed by a subcommittee hearing detailing Chinese human rights abuses.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represent more than 1.4 million working men and women throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.