Text: Commerce Secretary Mineta on Senate Passage of China PNTR
(PNTR called turning point in U.S. relations with China)

The passage of H.R. 4444, the bill granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status with the United States, marks a turning point in relations between Beijing and Washington, according to Secretary of Commerce Norman Y. Mineta.

In a statement released September 19 following the historic vote, Mineta said the Commerce Department will work "vigorously to ensure China's compliance to its WTO commitments and to advance the goal of more open and more fair trade."

The Commerce Department, Mineta said, already has set in place "a rapid response compliance team both here and in China that will work under tight deadlines to investigate commercial problems."

In addition, Mineta said, the Commerce Department has put a "special subsidies monitoring team" in place for China and a "special trade flow monitoring team" to watch movements in exports to and imports from China.

Following is the text of Mineta's statement:

(begin text)

Statement by Secretary of Commerce Norman Y. Mineta
On Senate Passage of PNTR For China

Washington, D.C. -- The Senate made a momentous decision today to extend Permanent Normal Trade Relations to China. This vote represents a historic turning point in our economic relations with China.

Along with President Clinton, I want to thank the Congress for its leadership and willingness to work in a bipartisan fashion to secure the bill's passage. It took over 13 years to negotiate this agreement and a great deal of courage by Members of both houses to make it a reality. I am confident that, 13 years from now, we will all reflect upon this decision and view it as a critical step toward a more prosperous and secure America.

The passage of the China PNTR bill is only the beginning. We will work vigorously to ensure China's compliance to its WTO commitments and to advance the goal of more open and more fair trade.

The Commerce Department has already taken the following steps:

-- We have a rapid response compliance team both here and in China that will work under tight deadlines to investigate commercial problems.

-- We have put a special subsidies monitoring team in place for China and a special trade flow monitoring team to watch movements in our exports to and imports from China. We will provide technical assistance and work with China as they conform their laws to the WTO.

-- We have launched a series of export promotion seminars around the country focusing on China and China's commitments to the WTO.

Our job is not complete until all American businesses and workers reap the full benefit of this historic agreement.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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