Ed Royce: “The bill does not now require compliance with each criteria, which represent at any rate general guidelines and are not…”

“The bill does not now require compliance with each criteria, which represent at any rate general guidelines and are not specific in the sense of quantifiable percentages or levels of compliance. The criteria call for countries to make, as we say, and let me quote, ``continual progress toward establishing a market-based economy'' relative to the 12 items listed in the bill. The application of the criteria have been left somewhat vague, even though the parameters are specific. The intention is to reward nations that are making progress without requiring they meet a specific target. However, it is expected that nations will make a good-faith effort to address all the concerns expressed as participation criteria. To delete the need to address them all says that they can do well in some areas and absolutely ignore others. This would be our concern. Would we be satisfied in seeing nations participate in this process if they made reforms in governance but failed to reform human rights? Would we find it acceptable to accept a nation that made changes in tax laws but refused to honor the rule of law?”