|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON (AFP) - United States Senators on Tuesday finally took up a debate on a historic trade pact with China, a crucial step in President Bill Clinton's policy of engagement with Beijing.
The debate, which had been delayed until after the Senate summer recess in August by a legislative logjam, was expected to last around 36 hours, spreading over nearly two weeks in the Senate. The House of Representatives passed the bill, granting permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) in a cliffhanger vote earlier this year. White House officials have warned that a further delay in Senate passage of PNTR could have serious implications for U.S. foreign and security policy and would cost U.S. businesses billions of dollars in lost commerce. Looming as the biggest threat to the legislation is a bid by Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson to punish China with sanctions over its alleged exports of arms to flashpoint states and U.S. adversaries. Thompson has warned that if he is not given a vote on his measure, he will use Senate procedure to add his bill to the PNTR legislation as an amendment, a move that could split the likely majority for the trade deal. As well as Thompson's bill, supporters of PNTR, which include the powerful business lobby, fear that a flood of other amendments could further delay its passage. An amended bill must be returned to the House for consideration, a requirement that could not be completed before Congress breaks for November's elections. |
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
