September 13

A coalition of farm and food organizations representing virtually the entire scope of U.S. agriculture has asked every members of the Senate to support an amendment-free version of permanent normal trade relations with China and get on with the vote. To weigh the measure down with amendments sends it back to the House where defeat is possible and delay highly probable.

One amendment being proposed, by Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN), would require the president to implement sanctions under various circumstances. "Unilateral sanctions have the effect of giving U.S. markets to our competitors," the group told senators. "While there are efforts to exempt food, medicine and agriculture from the existing language, American agricultural producers, regardless of exemptions, would be put at risk. If the United States sanctions or even threatens sanctions for any products, agriculture is often first on the other country's retaliation list."

Also, any further consideration of a China nonproliferation bill "should not delay action on a vote for PNTR." The U.S. agriculture industry continues to face depressed prices. "Agricultural producers and food manufacturers should not have to face burdens erected by their own government such as unilateral sanctions or failure to pass PNTR," they added.

However, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS reports that a dispute over what to do about China's dealing in weapons of mass destruction was holding up what was expected to be a strong Senate vote to endorse permanent normal trade status for China. "Passage of the most important trade bill of this Congress was within sight, but the Senate was still struggling with how to dispose of the proliferation issue and at least a dozen other amendments.," the AP said.

"It's going to pass. It's time now we get to the closing," Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said Tuesday. But Lott's effort to hold a vote Wednesday on the amendment by Thompson that would impose sanctions on Chinese and other foreign companies engaged in weapons proliferation was thwarted by fellow Republicans.

Banking Committee Chairman Phil Gramm (R-TX) and Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Y), also a senior member of that committee, argued that they should have more input in shaping the proliferations bill, according to the AP. Thompson, who chairs the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, shot back that "this is the only amendment that deals with a direct threat to this nation and we are talking about process."

Thompson acknowledged that he faced formidable foes in pushing his measure. "There's a powerful combination of forces out there - the White House and the Chamber of Commerce - working very hard against this."