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White House Pulls Out All the Stops to Win Approval of China Trade Bill

Aired May 18, 2000 - 6:06 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The Clinton administration is pulling out all the stops to win congressional approval of a bill to establish permanent normal trade ties with China. That included bringing out a prominent ally Thursday, but critics were not silent either.

White House correspondent Kelly Wallace has more on the battle and what's at stake.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Clinton, increasingly confident about the China trade deal, but not resting yet, brought out one of the biggest guns Thursday: Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We all know that when Chairman Greenspan talks, the world listens. I just hope that Congress is listening today.

WALLACE: Chairman Greenspan, who rarely speaks out on legislative issues, said granting permanent normal trade relations with China would not only benefit the U.S. economy, but could also pave the way for political reform in the communist nation.

ALAN GREENSPAN, FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD CHAIRMAN: Such a development will be a far stronger vehicle to foster other individual rights than any other alternative of which I am aware.

WALLACE: Democratic lawmakers and Chinese dissidents, who oppose the China trade deal, chained themselves together at a Capitol Hill rally. Their message: By normalizing trade with China, the U.S. would be giving up its annual review of China's record on human rights, labor practices, and religious tolerance.

REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: My own view strongly held is that we should not take all of the pressure and leverage off of China.

WALLACE: Opponents point to China's recent crackdown on the spiritual movement Falun Gong. White House officials concede they hope the Chinese don't do or say anything provocative before next week's vote. They're trying to keep the debate focused on the economic and national security benefits of the measure. CLINTON: If you want to maximize the chances of avoiding proliferation of dangerous weapons and a new arms race, a yes is the right vote.

WALLACE (on camera): Mr. Clinton will take that message directly to the American people in a televised address Sunday, hoping that speech combined with the plug from Chairman Greenspan may be the final 1-2 punch to seal the deal.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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