Political Quotes

“Mr. President, 20 years ago this week, Joe Biden and other politicians from both parties gave a gift to the Communist Party: permanent most favored nation status. Permanent most favored nation status is a trade privilege we grant most countries that are members of the World Trade Organization. It places lower tariffs and fewer restrictions on those countries' goods. But historically our trade laws have treated hostile countries differently--Communist countries, countries that cheat on trade, human rights abusers; in other words, countries exactly like Communist China. A few of those countries, like Cuba and North Korea, are denied most favored nation status outright. What few goods their miserable socialist economies produce face steep tariffs, sanctions, and other restrictions, which is one reason you don't see too many ``Made in North Korea'' items on your local store shelves. Other countries historically have faced a yearly review of their trading privileges with the United States in which the President and Congress can assess the human rights and trade abuses ongoing in those countries and then determine whether it is in our interests to grant those trading privileges for another year. Communist China was one of those countries subject to yearly review-- at least it was until 20 years ago. This yearly review led the spirited debates about whether Communist China should be stripped of its trading privileges or whether it deserved a temporary reprieve.…”