Political Quotes

“I do not represent companies. I do not represent unions. I represent people. As with any legislation, I ask what does this vote on Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) for China mean to the people I represent back home? Workers and farmers throughout northern Illinois stand to benefit from the United States-China World Trade Organization (WTO) Accession Agreement because they will be making more product that eventually is exported to China, either directly or indirectly as suppliers. If you work for Daimler Chrysler in Belvidere, this vote simply means the opportunity to build and sell more Neons and auto parts to China. As recently as 1995, Chrysler exported 600 Neons and purchased parts from six different suppliers in northern Illinois for their Jeep Cherokee plant in Beijing, China. The amount of Chrysler-related exports to China totaled $7.8 million. However, in 1999, no Neons and only $30,000 in auto parts from two northern Illinois suppliers were sold to China. Why? China's protectionist auto policy now makes it virtually impossible to sell American cars and auto parts in China. This agreement forces China to cut tariffs by 75 percent on American cars and drop local content requirements on American-made auto parts. This will allow more Neons and American auto parts made by companies like Modine Manufacturing of McHenry and Camcar of Rockford to be exported to China.”