Russ Feingold: “I rise today, Mr. President, to express my opposition to granting permanent normal trade relations to the People's…”

“I rise today, Mr. President, to express my opposition to granting permanent normal trade relations to the People's Republic of China. The recent history of U.S.-China relations has been a study in self-delusion. The administration and this Congress do not lack for evidence or information about the nature of the Chinese government. But I am afraid the siren song of vast Chinese markets has deafened too many ears to the news of oppression and abuse inside China. Too often, the U.S. has chosen to ignore the realities before us and, as in this trade debate, has engaged in political and intellectual contortions to compartmentalize and seal off a host of important issues so that the promise of vast profits can stand alone and unencumbered. But I urge my colleagues to remember today--the mythological sirens' song served to lure sailors onto the rocks that crushed their ships. And refusing to look at the whole picture of U.S.-China relations in the single-minded pursuit of trade is, I submit, both foolish and dangerous.”