Paul Sees Last Minute Changes to China Bill, Announces Opposition PDF Print E-mail
FOR RELEASE: May 23, 2000

Paul Sees Last Minute Changes to China Bill, Announces Opposition New Government Commission/Managed Trade Principles Included in Rule

Washington, D.C. - Reacting to a proposed House rule allowing the so-called Bereuter language, and other changes, to the bill on normal trade relations with China, Congressman Ron Paul today announced he would vote against the legislation if the substance of the rule's changes were included in a vote on final passage.
Paul said, "I have consistently voted year-in and year-out for normal trade relations with China, but now we have a situation where the House leadership has decided to cave-in to the liberal Democrat demand for more and more government. I cannot support that."
For months, Paul has said he would support permanent normal trade relations with China. Last week, a version of the bill (HR 4444) was put forward by Phil Crane, a Congressman who, like Paul, strongly advocates free markets and free trade. However, when the President was unable to convince his own party to support him, he and the House leadership cut a back room deal aimed at securing the votes of liberal Democrats.
"This Congress has been repeatedly criticized by the very people who elected us," said Paul. "Time and time again, I have heard it said that we are not doing the job we have been elected to do. Time and time again, we have given in to President Clinton and the liberal minority in the House. Enough is enough. These last minute changes have created a PNTR bill that introduces a new government commission and put our taxpayers on the line for millions in so-called 'technical aid' to Communist China. Apparently, the administration believed that left-wing members of Congress could be convinced to vote for freer trade and freer markets just so long as we will give more foreign aid to our Communist Chinese adversaries."
Paul concluded by stating that managed trade features of the legislation now being discussed also disappointed him.
Paul said, "It is tiresome to continue hearing about free trade from the very people who are trying to cut off free trade. For example, this last minute language included so-called 'anti-surge protections'. How in the world can any serious person suggest that is free trade? The changes made to appease the liberals made this bill the very opposite of what it claimed to be trying to accomplish.
"As so often happens with large bills in Washington, PNTR became a vehicle for big government, managed trade, foreign aid giveaways and the creation of new government commissions. I could have supported a clean bill that simply meant lower tariffs. But this bill, and the means by which these changes were brought about, cried out for rejection of the legislation and the entire process."