And that the distinguished Senators from Arkansas and Minnesota, Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Wellstone, join us as principal cosponsors. It has made no sense, either morally or practically, for the U.S. to have conducted its China policy as it has for so long. There are many who are asserting the truth that the term MFN, which stands for Most Favored Nation, is a misnomer. MFN in fact means that a country gets trade treatment that's as good as anybody else's, not that it gets more favorable treatment than any other country. I accept that, and I oppose MFN on exactly those grounds.
China gets the same trade treatment that virtually everybody else gets.
When a country like China gets normal trade relations with the United States, it is getting better treatment than it deserves. And that's just plain wrong foolish. Therefore, the pro-MFN crowd says, China ought to get MFN without an annual debate. The trouble with that, Mr. President, is this. Those people who rely on the cases of these countries to make their points about MFN for China haven't done their homework.