Connie Mack: “I rise today because a bill is being introduced by Senators Roth, Moynihan, and members of the Finance Committee which…”

“I rise today because a bill is being introduced by Senators Roth, Moynihan, and members of the Finance Committee which seeks to amend trade laws and provisions referring to ``Most Favored Nation'' [MFN] trading status. They seek to rename MFN, ``Normal Trade Relations.'' I am not joining my Finance Committee colleagues on this bill today. But I would gladly support this initiative once the United States has an effective China policy. Mr. President, the reason we annually consider China's trade, human rights, and national security behavior during the MFN renewal debate is because we do not have an acceptable alternative. The goal, therefore, of this year's debate should not be to simply extend or revoke MFN for the PRC. I suggest, instead, that we endeavor to address the shortcomings of our China policy so that we do not need the annual MFN issue to debate China. Mr. President, we need a real China policy to replace the MFN revocation threat, not a name change. If the issue were just about the name, Americans would not voice such strong opposition to trading with China as if it were a normal country. The fact is, Mr. President, China is not like other trading nations. It is perhaps the worst violator of human rights and weapons nonproliferation standards in the world.”