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China trade bill appears likely to pass
Thursday, May 18, 2000
By ERIC SCHMITT and DAVID E. SANGER
WASHINGTON -- Committees in the House and the Senate overwhelmingly endorsed the administration's China trade bill yesterday, contributing to a growing sense that the ardently contested measure was headed for passage.
President Clinton, speaking at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, warned lawmakers that rejecting the bill "invites a future of dangerous confrontation and constant insecurity."
In Congress, six previously uncommitted House Republicans and Democrats announced they would support the legislation, a necessary step for U.S. companies to benefit fully from a market-opening accord that paves the way for China to enter the World Trade Organization.
Administration officials and congressional backers of the measure said they believe they might be close to the 218 votes needed for passage in the House when the bill comes to a vote next week, though they continued their heated campaign for votes.
"At this point we're looking for insurance votes," said one administration official. But the U.S. Trade Representative, Charlene Barshefsky, said, "the situation is still fluid."
In yesterday's House Ways and Means Committee vote, four previously undeclared Democrats joined an overwhelming vote, 34-4, in favor of the measure. Earlier in the day, the Senate Finance Committee approved the legislation, 18-1. Both committees have jurisdiction over trade bills.
White House officials said they plan to seek air time from the major television networks to allow Clinton to address the nation Sunday night about the China bill's importance. On Capitol Hill, critics of the measure downplayed the committee votes as preordained, and insisted that their campaign to focus on Beijing's poor record on human rights, religious freedom, environmental standards and earlier trade accords was working.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
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