Rand Paul: “yesterday morning the legislation which would have implemented ``permanent normal trade relations'' with the People's…”

“yesterday morning the legislation which would have implemented ``permanent normal trade relations'' with the People's Republic of China was three pages in length. Today, it is 66 pages in length. Close examination of this bill ``gone bad'' is demonstrative of how this Congress misdefines ``free trade'' and how, like most everything else is in Washington, this ``free trade'' bill is a misnomer of significant proportions. For the past several years I have favored normal trade relations with the People's Republic of China. Because of certain misconceptions, I believe it is useful to begin with some detail as to what ``normal trade relations'' status is and what it is not. Previous ``normal trade relations'' votes meant only that U.S. tariffs imposed on Chinese goods will be no different than tariffs imposed on other countries for similar products--period. NTR status did not mean more U.S. taxpayers dollars sent to China. It did not signify more international family planning dollars sent overseas. NTR status does not mean automatic access to the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, OPIC, or any member of other ``foreign aid'' vehicles by which the U.S. Congress sends foreign aid to a large number of countries. Rather, NTR status was the lowering of a United States citizen's taxes paid on voluntary exchanges entered into by citizens who happen to reside in different countries.…”