Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 3, 2000
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
"Washington businesses and workers have much to gain from the opportunities that PNTR status will create. Conversely, they have much to lose if PNTR is not granted and other nations take advantage of greater access to the world's largest market.
"Passing the president's proposed PNTR legislation would successfully culminate decades of negotiations, which recently resulted in a bilateral trade agreement that provides unprecedented access to China's markets for American farmers, companies and their workers. China also agrees to significantly reduce tariffs and quotas, as well as remove other non-tariff barriers that will enable greater export of American agricultural and industrial goods and services. The agreement also includes a number of provisions that will enhance the ability of American firms to do business in China.
"Of equal importance, granting PNTR as part of China's accession to the World Trade Organization will bring China under the rules of the multilateral trading system, as well as its dispute resolution mechanism. This will strengthen the rule of law in China and help accelerate its domestic reforms.
"Not granting PNTR to China - something all WTO members must extend to each other as a condition of WTO membership - will result in the United States sitting on the sidelines as other countries gain the benefits of the landmark China - U.S. trade agreement.
"Along with a large number of our nation's governors, I am hopeful Congress will pass PNTR for China."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 3, 2000
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Statement by Gov. Gary Locke on letter to Congress urging passage of Permanent Normal Trading Relations for China
"I am pleased that more than 40 fellow governors have joined North Dakota Gov. Edward Schaefer and me in a bipartisan letter urging the Senate and House to pass 'Permanent Normal Trading Relations' (PNTR) for the People's Republic of China."Washington businesses and workers have much to gain from the opportunities that PNTR status will create. Conversely, they have much to lose if PNTR is not granted and other nations take advantage of greater access to the world's largest market.
"Passing the president's proposed PNTR legislation would successfully culminate decades of negotiations, which recently resulted in a bilateral trade agreement that provides unprecedented access to China's markets for American farmers, companies and their workers. China also agrees to significantly reduce tariffs and quotas, as well as remove other non-tariff barriers that will enable greater export of American agricultural and industrial goods and services. The agreement also includes a number of provisions that will enhance the ability of American firms to do business in China.
"Of equal importance, granting PNTR as part of China's accession to the World Trade Organization will bring China under the rules of the multilateral trading system, as well as its dispute resolution mechanism. This will strengthen the rule of law in China and help accelerate its domestic reforms.
"Not granting PNTR to China - something all WTO members must extend to each other as a condition of WTO membership - will result in the United States sitting on the sidelines as other countries gain the benefits of the landmark China - U.S. trade agreement.
"Along with a large number of our nation's governors, I am hopeful Congress will pass PNTR for China."
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