Zoe Lofgren: “I rise to oppose H.J. Res. 50, the measure denying China Normal Trade Relations. Just last year, we approved historic…”

“I rise to oppose H.J. Res. 50, the measure denying China Normal Trade Relations. Just last year, we approved historic legislation (HR 4444) providing for Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) for China conditional on China's accession to the World Trade Organization. Those talks have not concluded, so yet again, we are called on to vote on a measure denying Normal Trade Relations for China. I urge my colleagues to vote no. Now more than ever it is important that we engage China for domestic and foreign policy reasons. On the domestic side, access to China-our 4th largest trading partner is important to US workers and US companies, especially our high- technology industry. In 2000, the high-tech sector accounted for 29% of US merchandise exports and has accounted for 30% of GDP growth since 1995. This in turn has led to greater prosperity for American workers. In 2000 (according to AeA's Key Industry Statistics) the Average Wage in the High-Tech Industry was $83,103. An estimated 350,000-400,000 US jobs depend on our exports to China. The case for trade with China is clear on the domestic front. But the case on the foreign policy side is also compelling. Free markets cannot prosper in authoritarian regimes and authoritarian regimes cannot long survive the impact of freedom and free markets. Change in China will be incremental.”