If it comes up for a vote, it might just pass. China's backers in the Senate insist that would be a catastrophe, and not only because it would annoy Beijing. If the Senate bill is amended, the trade measure must go back to the House for another vote. Supporters of permanent trade status for China fear there might not be enough time left to complete work on the legislation before Congress leaves town this year. This is nonsense.
China still has several hurdles to clear before it can join the trade organization.
It first has to complete negotiations with the other member states, negotiations that may drag on for months. Then Beijing must reach agreement with the WTO on implementation of its trade pacts. That will take time, too. Probably China won't be able to join the WTO until the end of this year, at the earliest. So American companies won't lose a blessed dollar if Congress waits until next year to complete work on the trade bill.