*EPF503 07/14/00
House Ways and Means Committee Rejects Measure to Deny China NTR
(H. J. Res. 103 reported out adversely) (320)
By Steve La Rocque
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The House Ways and Means Committee reported out adversely July 13 a resolution that would have denied China its annual Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status.

House Joint Resolution 103, submitted June 23 by Representatives Dana Rohrabacher (Republican of California), Dan Burton (Republican of Indiana), Duncan Hunter (Republican of California), and Marcy Kaptur (Democrat of Ohio) would have had Congress disapprove President Clinton's request for an extension of the waiver to China to allow NTR with that country for another year.

Currently China's trade status with the United States is determined on an annual basis. The Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status that China would receive if the Senate follows the House of Representatives in passing H.R. 4444 would end the annual debate on China's trade status.

However, to ensure that China still would have annual NTR status in the event that PNTR is delayed, President Clinton recommended to Congress June 2 that it approve his authority to grant China non-discriminatory treatment regarding trade.

The House Ways and Means Committee by a voice vote ordered H. J. Res. 103 to be reported "adversely" to the full House of Representatives.

To be reported adversely by a committee is a very steep barrier to passage for a piece of legislation. The resolution could not be killed in committee because it is privileged legislation. But without the endorsement of the House Ways and Means Committee, the likelihood of eventual passage of H. J. Res. 103 by the full House of Representatives is slim. The full House is scheduled to take up the measure July 18.

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