David Thomas: “the theater that is the annual China MFN debate has once again--predictably--fully run its course. The President…”

“the theater that is the annual China MFN debate has once again--predictably--fully run its course. The President recommended extension, United States business and our Asian trading partners held their collective breath, there was a lot of rhetoric on the floor of the House condemning China for a variety of serious misdeeds, and in the end a vast majority of the House voted to renew MFN yet again. In the wake of the debate, I believe that we should take a serious look at scrapping this annual drama and replacing it with a more pragmatic and workable solution. That the yearly MFN debate should be scrapped seems evident from an examination of its relative pros and cons. What is gained by the annual debate? Aside from an opportunity for some in Congress to air their grievances with the PRC, not much. What is lost, on the other hand? Quite a bit. First, the debate regularly disrupts our bilateral relationship by making the Chinese feel unfairly singled out, and not without reason. Most favored nation is a misnomer. Although the phrase implies some special treatment that the United States passes out discriminately, it is actually the normal trading status with all our trade partners.”