WASHINGTON-The House agreed to renew favorable trade status for Communist China, setting the stage possibly for a big fight over China’s quest for membership in the World Trade Organization this fall.
China, which recently got backing from Japan and Australia for WTO affiliation, has linked U.S. support to the lifting of wireless trade barriers in the giant Asian nation of 2.1 billion people. In April, the wireless industry was disappointed by President Clinton’s decision not to embrace WTO membership.
The chill in U.S.-Sino relations, following the May NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, appears to be thawing and could lead to renewed negotiations on Chinese WTO entry.
However, Republicans who run Congress and Democrats-unhappy about alleged technology transfers, spying and human rights violations by China-could muster enough votes to nix a White House deal on Chinese WTO membership.
