House of Representatives Defeats Measure to Deny China Trade Status
(Resolution would have stopped renewal of NTR waiver)
By Steve La Rocque
Washington File Staff WriterWashington -- Legislation to prevent the Clinton Administration from granting China an additional year of Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status went down to defeat 147 to 281 in the House of Representatives July 18.
House Joint Resolution 103 (H. J. Res. 103) would have disapproved the extension of the President's waiver authority as contained in section 402(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to China.
The resolution, introduced June 23 by Representative Dana Rohrabacher (Republican of California), had been voted out adversely from the House Ways and Means Committee July 18.
The resolution split both parties, with prominent Democrats and Republicans speaking for and against it.
With only 147 votes in favor of H. J. Res. 103, House opponents of normalizing trade relations with China suffered a more crushing defeat than in the passage of H.R. 4444 earlier in the year, which would grant that nation Permanent Normal Trade Relations status.
That bill, currently in the Senate, still awaits a date when it will be put to a vote.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
Return to The United States and China.Return to IIP Home Page.