House Approves China Trade Status.

May 25, 2000

The House of Representatives Wednesday voted 237-197 to grant permanent normal trade relations to China, effectively approving that nation’s entry into the World Trade Organization. Most U.S. agricultural groups had lobbied hard for approval of the trade measure, which would end annual Congressional reviews of China’s tariff status.

In recent days, passage had seemed increasingly likely as more undecided members of the House declared their intentions. The Administration strongly supported the bill, though the ardent opposition of the labor movement may create election-year complications for Vice President Gore’s campaign.

In the end, the bill’s supporters got 19 more votes than the bare majority they needed for passage. The legislation must still gain Senate approval, but that is expected to be much easier than the House vote. The Senate may vote within the next month, and the remaining question is whether Senators will approve exactly the same version as did the House today. If not, an additional House vote on a conference agreement might be needed, something supporters of the bill would prefer to avoid.