 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 Click
here to subcribe to Bob's E-Mail Newsletter |
Statement of
The Honorable Bob Etheridge
H.R. 4444, the PNTR for China Bill
May 24, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations status. Gaining greater access to the Chinese market is key to our effort to exert our nation's global economic leadership.
The growing relationship between the United States and China will help support North Carolina's economic leadership. Even without PNTR, in 1998 alone, my state exported over $215 million worth of goods-everything from stone and glass to electronics-to this market. This measure will reduce barriers to our exports and create more opportunities to support our goals. The rapidly growing Triangle area saw their exports to China jump 86 percent in just five years. Granting China PNTR will also open up the Chinese market to high-quality North Carolina agricultural products like tobacco, pork and poultry. Our nation's economic future depends on access to new and growing markets and investing in our people and our technology to compete and win in those markets. This is an essential component of that policy.
While I support opening trade relations with China, I, like many of you here today, am concerned about China's record on human rights.
The Reverend Billy Graham said, "I believe it is far better for us to thoughtfully strengthen positive aspects of our relationship with China than to threat it as an adversary. In my experience, nations can respond to friendship just as much as people do." I agree with Reverend Graham.
By exporting more American goods, services and citizens to the Chinese market-we will also export American values: information, freedom, democracy, and human rights.
At the dawn of this new century, America is enjoying unprecedented prosperity. But Mr. Speaker, if our nation is to continue to prosper, we must not slam the door on one fourth of the world's population. From the factory to the farm, PNTR is a good deal for American businesses and farmers and a good deal for the Chinese people. I urge Members to vote in favor of H.R. 4444.
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
| About Bob Etheridge | Constituent Services | Contact Bob | Email Bob | Home |
| Just for Children | Legislative Issues | Press Room | The 2nd District | Visit Washington |