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The House voted 237-197 to normalize economic relations with China following a debate that was as divisive for Clinton's party as it was fortifying for the president's legacy. In one of the richest ironies of his two terms in office, the president owed his win Wednesday not to fellow Democrats but to the same GOP lawmakers who impeached him a year ago and who make up the bulwark of visceral Clinton antipathy in the Republican Party. In the Senate, where lawmakers are more receptive to free trade deals, a vote on the pact is expected in early June and should bring more good news for Clinton unless the legislation becomes bogged down with unrelated items from the wish lists of senators. About three-fourths of House Republicans - 164 lawmakers - voted for the trade agreement while just 73 Democrats supported it. Democrats complained bitterly about being forced to choose between their president and their allies in the environmental and labor movements, who ardently opposed the deal. Rep. Curt Weldon, a Pennsylvania Republican who was among a handful of lawmakers who remained undeclared until the vote, said, "In spite of President Clinton, I'm voting for normalized trade relations with China." House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., who delivered the vast majority of his caucus for the agreement that the Clinton administration forged with the Chinese government last fall, said that he agreed with critics who denounced China's poor record on human rights and worker abuses, but said that opening economic doors was the better way to support pro-democracy forces than isolating China. Making the history books "We're showing the people and the leaders of China what real democracy looks like," the speaker said. If approved by Congress, the trade agreement with China would become a final installment on a foreign policy that emphasized building the American economy with direct help from new markets abroad while also exporting U.S.-style democracy indirectly to once closed societies. The first breakthrough for the president was the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993, which liberalized trade with Mexico and Canada. Clinton likewise won congressional blessing for that bill despite a similarly well-orchestrated opposition by unions and environmentalists, two key Democratic constituencies. Then, earlier this year, Congress approved his proposal to drop trade barriers with Africa and countries in the Caribbean Basin. Some analysts said Wednesday that opening trade with China will put Clinton in the history books as the president who led the march to economic globalization. And his success in trade gives historians something to take note of other than his survival of an impeachment because of a sex scandal in which he lied to the nation about an affair with a White House intern. Other trade experts say Clinton's record on trade is only average, noting that former President George Bush laid the groundwork for both NAFTA and free trade with South America and that Clinton failed to deliver on the latter. "If you take the administration as a whole, it's been a disappointment," said Jerry O'Driscoll, director of international trade issues for the conservative Heritage Foundation. O'Driscoll argued the Clinton administration has failed to move on strong overtures for free trade from countries such as Chile, which share a hemisphere with the United States. China gets low tariffs Robert Litan, director of economic studies at the more liberal Brookings Institution, said vast differences still remain among new trading partners on issues such as environmental standards and worker protections. "These are all battles left for the next president," he said. The trade deal would grant China the low tariffs and access to American markets enjoyed by most other countries without its having to submit to annual reviews of its trade status. That yearly debate on the House and Senate floors focused international attention on China's poor record on human and worker rights and on religious freedoms. The Beijing government was eager for the annual episodes to end. Although Clinton's proposal was amended by the House with a measure by Reps. Sander Levin, D-Mich., and Doug Bereuter, R-Neb., creating a blue ribbon panel to continue annual reports of China's progress, a tougher proposal by Rep. Christopher Cox, R-Calif., to subject the commission's findings to annual floor votes was squelched by Hastert and the White House. Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., a leading critic, called the panel "a fig leaf" for lawmakers that will have no impact on Beijing's ruthlessness. Opponents fear that China will use its relatively low paid workers and regulation-free factories to swamp the American market with cheap goods and to lure away U.S. companies eager for cheap labor. Supporters argue that China will have no more or less access to American consumers under the trade pact than it does now, while the United States would gain access to China's 1.25 billion people once that country lowers tariffs and drops import restrictions. DeLay's response Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, the No. 3-ranking House leader who led the vote-building operation for Hastert, said the trade law would finally give American business a more level playing field in China, while doing nothing to weaken Congress' right to revoke China's trade privileges if it attacks neighboring Taiwan or otherwise threatens American security. In an rare election-year alliance, DeLay worked hand-in-hand with Clinton's staff to round up votes for the bill, meeting sometimes daily over the past two weeks with Charles Brain, the White House chief liaison to Capitol Hill and other administration officials.
Graphic: Lowering the bars Highlights of the U.S.-China trade deal, which promises greater access to China's markets and eases China's entry into the World Trade Organization. Overall Tariffs will be cut an average of 23% Telecommunications Phone companies will be able to own up to 49% of all telecommunications service ventures once China enters the WTO, up to 50% two years later * Foreigners may invest in Internet companies Manufacturing Manufacturers can sell products directly to Chinese consumers Movie industry Imports of foreign films will double to 20 a year; foreign film and music companies will share in distribution revenues Agriculture Tariffs on farm products will fall to 14.5% from 15%; Chinese export subsidies will be dropped Banking U.S. banks can offer services in local currency to Chinese businesses two years after China joins the WTO, to Chinese citizens five years after joining Auto Industry Auto companies will have full distribution, trading rights; U.S. financing of purchases will be allowed; by 2006, tariffs will drop to 25% from 80% to 100% SOURCES: U.S. Trade Representative, AP Research/PAT CARR; Graphic/LEE HULTENG/KRT
Graphic: Texas House members' votes Here's how Texas House members voted Wednesday on whether to grant permanent normal trade status to China. The measure was approved 237-197 in a roll call. A "yes" vote is a vote to approve permanent trade status. Voting yes were 73 Democrats and 164 Republicans. Voting no were 138 Democrats, 57 Republicans and two independents. There are no vacancies in the 435-member House. Yes Republicans - Archer; Armey; Bonilla; Brady; Combest; DeLay; Granger; Johnson, Sam; Sessions; Smith; Thornberry. Democrats - Bentsen; Doggett; Edwards; Frost; Gonzalez; Hall; Hinojosa; Jackson-Lee; Johnson, E. B.; Ortiz; Reyes; Sandlin; Stenholm; Turner. No Republicans - Barton; Paul. Democrats - Green; Lampson; Rodriguez; The Associated Press
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