AFL-CIO Urges Thumbs Down on China

February 1, 2000

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, in a letter to Congress, says the U.S.-China trade agreement does not reflect "human values" such as workers’ rights, human rights and environmental protections. The union "strongly urges" that China not be granted normal trade relations.

"The (Clinton) administration has made a grave miscalculation of the costs and benefits of bringing China into the WTO (World Trade Organization) under the terms of the recently negotiated agreement," the letter said. "The American people support trade but strongly believe that trade agreements must protect workers’ rights, human rights and environmental protections. The proposed U.S. agreement with China does not reflect those values."

Sweeney went on to say the "many voices" in Seattle that expressed "broad concerns about how globalization affects everyday lives...cannot be ignored." An attempt to open international trade talks in Seattle failed, and during the talks protestors concerned with labor and environmental issues disrupted the process.

"Workers in this country and around the world need rules that protect them from exploitation," the letter said. "Developing countries need both the resources and the technical assistance to free themselves from crippling debt burdens, to engage in trade negotiations on an equal footing and to implement and enforce adequate labor and environmental standards. Protection of the environment must not take a back seat to trade liberalization."

China has demonstrated "it is not ready for membership" in the WTO. "The Chinese government repeatedly and flagrantly violates international norms on fundamental human rights, including freedom of association, freedom of speech and religious freedom," said Sweeney. Independent trade union activity "is brutally repressed."

To suggest that China’s WTO membership "will bring it under the rule of law is simply wishful thinking."

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN) in a news conference Monday, said flatly that China "is coming into the WTO." China will reach an agreement on trade with the European Union and other countries that will clear the way for membership.

The United States could face a situation where China is in the WTO, but "we don’t have an agreement" on trade with China. A U.S.-China agreement was worked out last year, but Congress must grant normal trade relations to China in order for the pact to take effect.