William Helms: “this subject has been, on many occasions, on the floor of the Senate. It is the issue of most-favored-nation trading…”

“this subject has been, on many occasions, on the floor of the Senate. It is the issue of most-favored-nation trading status for Communist China. If there ever was a modest amendment, this one is. It clearly restates the priorities specified in S. 806, which was Senator Mitchell's China MFN legislation, on which I am an original cosponsor with Senators Moynihan, Sarbanes, Dodd, Leahy, and others. The point I am making is that this amendment is by no means a new proposal, because the Senate has passed precisely this proposal in the past. It does not impose any new statutory conditions. Rather, it is intended to send a direct message, and does send a direct message to both the Chinese and the administration, that as part of the MFN renewal process later this year, the Senate will measure Chinese progress on the following concerns: Human rights, including adherence to the universal declaration of human rights. The release of political and religious detainees. That is a fancy word for prisoners. Freedom of emigration. And, most important to me, respect for Tibet. Yes; I confess right this minute that I am a great admirer and a friend of the Dalai Lama. I meet with him every time he comes to Washington. The second measurement is trade, including whether China has genuinely stopped the practice of illegal prison labor exports and unfair anti-American trade practices in general.”