Neal Dunn: “for the past 7 years this body has gone through the annual ritual of debating MFN status for China because the minority…”

“for the past 7 years this body has gone through the annual ritual of debating MFN status for China because the minority of our membership thinks that China needs to be taught a lesson. This may make some of my colleagues feel good, but I believe it is a misguided response that hinders the development of human rights and democracy in China. Before rushing headlong into the mistake of adding China to the list of nations denied MFN, there are two points to consider. First of all, who would be penalized by denying China MFN? Our compassion for the suffering in China is useless if the policy has no effect other than to put our own people out of work. Indeed, then the compassion is misplaced. We have made no difference in the life of those suffering overseas while only increasing the numbers of those suffering without jobs here at home. By terminating MFN to China, this is exactly what I believe will occur. The loss of MFN will not change China. It will, however, cost our Nation and Washington State billions of dollars in aircraft, lumber, software, and agricultural sales and tens of thousands of jobs to our European and our Asian competitors. The second point to consider is will revoking MFN accomplish our goal of improved human rights and democracy. I do not believe it will. United States trade and investment teach the skills of free enterprise that are fundamental to any free society.”