March 6, 2000

U.S. corn exports to China could triple under the pending trade agreement between the two countries, the president of the National Corn Growers Association said. Lynn Jensen, speaking to the group’s annual meeting, said NCGA’s top trade priority for the year was passing permanent normal trade relations for China, a prerequisite for gaining the benefits of that country’s trade concessions as it joins the World Trade Organization.

Separately, White House officials were quoted as saying President Clinton will send to Capitol Hill this week a bill making China’s trade status permanent. The White House wants an early vote, officials told REUTERS. In recent weeks, lobbyists close to trade issues have begun to speculate that a vote may not occur at all this year because vote counts in the House of Representatives remain uncertain and, in these lobbyists’ view, Vice President Gore’s campaign is at risk from a vote that divides the Administration and the labor movement.