Patty Murray: “I rise today to urge my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle to grant Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to…”

“I rise today to urge my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle to grant Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to China. This is about moving China in the right direction, and in the process allowing America's workers to benefit from the massive trade concessions we have won at the negotiating table. This is a critical vote. China is home to one out of every five people on the planet, and our relationship with China is important. This vote can also have a positive impact on regional relationships throughout Asia. That is because Taiwan and Asian nations like Japan support China's accession to the World Trade Organization. They know that China's engagement will be a positive development. If Congress fails to grant PNTR to China, we will hinder our broader relationship with that country, make it harder for us to promote change there, and damage America's workers and industries as they compete with other countries for a place in China's market. The Chinese have agreed to radically open their market to U.S. goods and services. Chinese trade concessions will benefit the United States across all economic sectors in virtually every region of our country. And, the changes China has committed itself to--in order to join the WTO--will further open China to Western ideas. I have come to the floor today to illustrate the ways that PNTR for China will help our families, our industries, and our economy.”