James Davis: “I think it is perfectly clear that we have to engage China in commerce. These are the ties that bind. This is a country…”

“I think it is perfectly clear that we have to engage China in commerce. These are the ties that bind. This is a country with a population in excess of 1.2 billion people and growing. I think it is terribly important to point out that the Taiwanese, who have been under as much risk as anyone in the world with China's behavior, strongly support the adoption of this bill and view it as a very important step towards achieving a more peaceful resolution of their differences over the next decade. I think it is fair to say that there is no question that the concessions the United States has extracted to further access to China are very, very strong. In Florida, my home State, there will be significant reductions in tariffs on orange juice, grapefruit concentrate, and fertilizer. And the fertilizer industry will begin to privatize over time in China. Who will benefit under this agreement? In 1997, 82 percent of the exporters to China were small and medium-sized businesses. In my State, Florida, in 1997, 52 percent of the exporters to China were small businesses, businesses with 100 employees or less. We are bringing China into the rule of law.”