William Helms: “the pending amendment proposes that the Secretary of Commerce be requested to consult with American businesses on…”

“the pending amendment proposes that the Secretary of Commerce be requested to consult with American businesses on drafting and adopting a voluntary code of conduct for doing business in China. Such a voluntary code of conduct would follow internationally recognized human rights, work against discrimination and forced labor, support the principles of free enterprise and the rights of workers to organize, and discourage mandatory political indoctrination in the workplace. The purpose of this amendment is this: So often in this debate, the argument has been advanced that only by exposing the Chinese Government and the Chinese people to our values through expanded trade and investment can we hope to bring about political change in China, and the only way we can help that desired achievement is to do as the amendment proposes. I have always been skeptical about this because businesses are not in the business of expanding democracy. I am not going to comment on what the businesses support in PNTR and the way it is being supported. Be that as it may, businesses exist, quite frankly, to make money. I certainly have no problem with that. But let's be honest on the process of what we are doing here in this Senate Chamber. American businesses, even if viewed in the most charitable light, are not likely to lift a finger to promote democracy in China.”