WASHINGTON-The Clinton administration, which recently patched up relations with China and resumed trade talks, last week lashed out at GOP congressional leaders for saying Congress likely will not vote on Chinese membership in the World Trade Organization this year.
“It’s hard to understand why the Republican leader of the Senate and the Republican leader of the House would oppose the Chamber of Commerce, and oppose every business group around, and say we shouldn’t have China in the WTO,” said White House press spokesman Joe Lockhart.
One such business sector is the wireless industry, which desperately wants to take China up on its April offer to dramatically open wireless service and equipment markets to foreigners.
China’s market is particularly attractive to U.S. wireless firms because of the country’s 2.1 billion population and the Communist government’s support for economic reforms.
The Telecommunications Industry Association, which represents U.S. telecom suppliers, strongly supports China’s WTO membership.
Lockhart’s caustic remarks follow recent statements by House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) in which they threw cold water on prospects for acting on Chinese WTO entry this year.
“But opposition is a perfectly legitimate position,” stated Lockhart, “if they look at a deal and say, `That isn’t in America’s interest.’ But to send the message publicly, to the Chinese, that even if you find a way to make the concessions we’re seeking, and make a deal that’s in the U.S. national interest, we’re just not going to look at it this year. That’s wrong.”
U.S.-China trade talks, which were called off by China after the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia in May, got back on track after President Clinton met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin during the Asia-Pacific trade summit two weeks ago in Aukland, New Zealand.
GOP statements aside, chances for China getting into the WTO this year already were dim. China still has not made trade concessions demanded by the White House. And Congress-Republicans and Democrats alike-is not apt to take up the issue a year before next fall’s elections in view of allegations against China involving technology transfers, weapon sales to rogue nations, illegal campaign contributions and nuclear spying.
Last year, the United States had a $60 billion trade deficit with China.
Lockhart brushed off a suggestion that GOP lawmakers are basing their position on China’s behavior.
“Then they [Republicans] should make an argument that we shouldn’t deal with the Chinese, that we should cut off relations. But to try to undermine the negotiations, as they’ve done here, I don’t think that serves America’s interests.”
