Baker: Failed PNTR Will Isolate the U.S.

May 10, 2000

James Baker, former secretary of state, says if Congress fails to approve permanent normal trade relations with China, the action will "more likely" isolate the United States, not China. Baker, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Presidents Ford and Carter strongly urged an affirmative vote on PNTR in an appearance Tuesday at the White House.

"Forces arrayed against" PNTR "must not be allowed to hold hostage America’s efforts to lead the way in liberalizing global trade and investment," said Baker. "Engagement and only engagement is the answer."

That’s because China "is in the midst of a great transformation – economic, social and political – of truly historical proportions," he added. "By defeating normal trade relations with China we make much less likely China’s ultimate emergence as a full-fledged member of the community of democratic and peaceful nations."

There are issues "that transcend partisan politics, issues that are as vital to this country as they are tough politically. Normalizing trade relations with China is one of those issues," Baker said.

Former President Ford noted that China is working to restructure "thousands of state-owned enterprises in an effort to transform its centrally planned economy into a market-oriented system. We want China’s economic reform to succeed."

China’s political system remains repressive, Ford added, but a vote against PNTR "will not solve those (types of) problems."

Former President Carter noted the changes in China’s human rights record and free enterprise record over the past 20 years. "China still has not measured up to the human rights and democracy standards and labor standards of America," Carter said. "But there’s no doubt in my mind that a negative vote in this issue in Congress will be a serious setback and impediment for the further democratization, freedom and human rights in China."