GOP Senators Push Stripping China's Preferential Trade Status to Protect US Workers, Condemn Rights Abuses

Republican senators on March 18 introduced a bill that would strip the Chinese regime of its trading privileges by revoking its permanent normal trade relations status in a bid to hold it accountable for its economic aggressions and human rights abuses.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton, would tie China's eligibility to receive preferential trading treatment-known as "Normal trade relations" status-with the government's human rights record.

Under President Bill Clinton, the United States granted China PNTR status in 2000, which paved the way for the regime's accession to the World Trade Organization.

Conventional thinking at the time was that more trade and investment in China would spur democratization within the communist-ruled country.

"For twenty years, China has held permanent most-favored-nation status, which has supercharged the loss of American manufacturing jobs. It's time to protect American jobs and hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for their forced labor camps and egregious human rights violations," Cotton said in a statement.

The bill would also disqualify China from NTR status if its government engages in the certain human rights abuses, including forced labor, detaining people in concentration camps; performing forced abortions or sterilizations, forcibly taking the vital organs from prisoners and dissidents, and blocking the free exercise of religion.

"Ending China's permanent preferential trade relationship will send a strong message to the Chinese Communist Party and will support American workers."

https://www.theepochtimes.com/gop-senators-push-stripping-chinas-preferential-trade-status-to-protect-us-workers-condemn-rights-abuses_3739788.html