Business lobbyists seek China trade

[Ulhas Joglekar]

21 December 1999
Business lobbyists seek China trade
WASHINGTON: With billions of dollars in new business at stake, corporate
executives are busily lobbying in favor of normal trade relations with China
even though the vote is still months away.
Business lobbyists are following the same strategy that proved successful
earlier this year on a vote to renew China's low tariffs for one year: Have
representatives of companies and their suppliers visit their members of
Congress and show them how free trade means jobs in their districts.
``What we do is set up meetings with the members with local businesses,
talking about the agreement with China and the economic benefits to the
local community,'' said Johanna Schneider, a spokeswoman for the Business
Roundtable, an association of corporate chief executive. The group has
targeted 71 congressional districts to lobby on China trade.
This time, however, the stakes are higher. Congress must vote to grant
permanent normal trade relations with China in order for the world's most
populous nation to join the World Trade Organization. This would allow U.S.
exporters to benefit from China's significant market-opening offers. A vote
is expected in the spring.
Opponents are more energized as well. Union members, environmentalists and
others besieged Seattle during a recent meeting of the WTO to press their
opposition. Their concern is that allowing China and other nations with
low-wage workers into the WTO will cost American jobs and increase
manufacturing in countries with poor environmental controls.
``We are going to flood Congress with Teamster opposition,'' Teamsters union
spokesman Bret Caldwell said. ``This is a very important issue. We are going
to score members on this and we're going to hold people accountable for
their votes.''
Corporate lobbyists viewed the massive protests in Seattle as a warning sign
that the bid to gain China's entry into the WTO will require great effort.
``Seattle happened with plenty of time for us to get that wake-up call,''
said Bill Morley, the chief lobbyist on trade issues for the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce. The chamber, the nation's top business lobby, has targeted 66
congressional districts for its pro-free trade campaign.
The chamber plans to let members of Congress know that their votes on this
issue will help determine how much support - financial and otherwise - they
will receive from the corporate community next year.
``This is going to be one of the most important votes next year, no
question,'' said Myron Brilliant, head of the chamber's Asia division.
Chamber President Tom Donohue, and his counterpart at the Business
Roundtable, Samuel Maury, went to the White House on Friday to talk strategy
with deputy chief of staff Steve Ricchetti and other Clinton administration
officials.
``We were getting on the same page with a plan to define to the country the
major benefits of permanent normal trade relations with China,'' Donohue
explained.
In February, more than three dozen chief executive officers of Fortune 500
corporations are scheduled to fly to Washington and meet with members of
Congress.
And the business community is making common cause with other interest
groups, such as farmers hoping to export their goods to wide-open Chinese
markets.
Business groups are planning television commercials to carry their message
to the American public. The Chamber of Commerce is setting up a separate Web
site where visitors can send letters to their lawmakers with the click of a
mouse.
The Business Roundtable already has run print ads tailored to specific
regions. In Iowa, they focused on the boost for agriculture if Congress
grants normal trade relations with China. In Michigan, the subject was
manufacturing.
For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
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Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 1999.