*EPF305 03/01/00
Barshefsky Expects China WTO Accession Legislation Soon
(No deadline set for normal trade relations bill) (330)
By Bruce Odessey
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said the Clinton administration will soon submit to Congress its legislative proposal for granting China permanent normal trade relations (PNTR), but she set no deadline.

"You'll see some legislation shortly," Barshefsky told reporters March 1. "I'll just leave it at that."

Without a grant of PNTR, also called most-favored nation (MFN) status, the United States has no legal claim to the benefits it negotiated in an agreement with China for China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), she said.

Supporters in Congress of PNTR have been pressing the Clinton administration leadership to move its legislative proposal quickly. Administration officials have been preparing for what they expect will be a tough fight to pass PNTR over intense opposition from labor unions and human rights groups.

Barshefsky acknowledged hearing speculation that China's leaders would decide to drop pursuit of WTO accession if the United States did not grant PNTR.

"I have no way of knowing if that's true," she said. "That sounds rather farfetched to me."

Nevertheless, she said Congress should consider PNTR for China soon and not delay a vote until 2001, safely past the November elections.

"I think all bets are off if this year comes and goes with no action," Barshefsky said.

Barshefsky spoke with reporters the same day that her office must submit to Congress a report on the U.S. benefits from WTO participation after five years. Release of the report will likely trigger a vote in Congress about whether to continue U.S. participation in the WTO.

A spokeswoman said the administration did not expect to submit the report until late in the day.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)
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