For the people of Hong Kong there is no comfort in the proposition that if China reduces their freedoms the U.S. will take away their jobs. Among the loudest voices clamoring for support of continued trade with China are those with their political and economic prosperity most at stake. Both Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten and Democratic Party leader Martin Lee have said that denying China's MFN status would devastate Hong Kong both politically and economically. Hong Kong, whose largest trading partners are the U.S. and China, would get caught in the crossfire and could see its growth cut in half and its unemployment doubled. We should not punish American citizens and businesses in what will likely be an unsuccessful effort to aid the citizens and businesses of China.
China is our fastest growing export market.
In addition, the resulting increases in tariffs will most hurt the low to middle-income families who are more likely to purchase imported goods from China. By revoking MFN, Congress would do significant harm to both Americans and the Chinese. 2 Chris Patten, Governor of Hong Kong, The Wall Street Journal , May 22, 1997. 3 Chris Patten, speech before the National Press Club, Washington, D.C., May 8, 1996. 5 International Business and Economic Research Corporation, The Costs to the United States Economy that Would Result from Removal of China's Most Favored Nation Status , June 1996, p. 20.