Political Quotes

“I oppose renewing most-favored-nation status [MFN] for China at this time. I have supported MFN for China in the past. My support has been predicated upon the assumption that there would be certain improvements in China's conduct as a member of the international community. The County Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995 published by the U.S. Department of State states that ``During the year the Government continued to commit widespread and well documented human rights abuses, in violation of internationally accepted norms, stemming both from the authorities intolerance of dissent and the inadequacy of legal safeguards for basic freedom''. This statement comes 7 years after the 1989 crackdown in Tiananmen Square. Further, we have a trade deficit with China of $34 billion that suggests less than an open Chinese market to United States goods. In 1986 the United States had a trade deficit of $1.7 billion with China; that deficit now stands at $33.8 billion.”