Now I would like to explain some of the conclusions I have reached and bring clarity to what is at stake. My biggest concern has been the reports regarding religious persecution and other human rights violations that occur in China. Although human rights conditions have improved over the past 20 years since China has opened up its market to world, it has a lot of progress to make in this regard. Comments by respected religious leaders and my own observations however, have led me to believe that increased trade will help promote greater religious and general freedoms in China. In addition, the Senate PNTR bill recognizes the importance of religious and human rights by setting up a permanent Commission to monitor human and religious rights and the development of rule of law that can cause democracy building in China.
People often forget the U.S. and China currently have a trading relationship.
Every year since 1980, the U.S. has extended normal trade relations treatment on an annual basis to China. The trade agreement does not require the U.S. to make any concessions. It does not lower tariffs or other trade barriers for Chinese products coming into America. Instead, it forces China to open its market to U.S. goods and services, provided the Congress extends PNTR to China. At the same time China must play by the rules of the international trading system, subjecting itself to the WTO's dispute settlement process.