The House is still scheduled to vote on legislation granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) trade status to China on May 24 or 25. The vote is expected to be extremely close.

It is critically important that we generate maximum grass roots pressure on House Representatives between now and the vote.

The message to our Representatives is simple. We want them to vote against the legislation granting PNTR status to China.

Although a number of Representatives (such as Representatives Levin and Cox) have proposed parallel legislation to accompany PNTR, the UAW believes that these proposals are nothing more than toothless fig leafs. These proposals simply provide new ways to monitor and report on Chinese actions, but do not contain any mechanisms to force China to recognize basic worker and human rights, to prevent import surges that would threaten the jobs of thousands of Americans, or to require China to honor its international commitments. Thus, in our judgment none of these proposals justifies the granting of PNTR to China. The UAW opposes the Levin, Cox and other proposals for parallel legislation, and is urging Representatives to vote against these proposals, as well as against PNTR for China.

The House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee are scheduled to mark up the legislation granting PNTR to China and the proposals for parallel legislation on Wednesday, May 17. Although the committees are expected to approve these measures by wide margins, this does not accurately reflect the situation in the full House, where the outcome of the vote on PNTR is too close to call.

We are now down to the final 10-11 days of the battle over PNTR for China. Our efforts to mobilize pressure on our Representatives during the coming days could make the difference.

Thanks in advance for all of your efforts.