U.S.-Chinese Trade Relations

Ambassador Qizhen spoke at a National Press Club breakfast meeting to discuss the extension of most favored nation trade status by the U.S. to China. The extension of most favored nation trade status to China would normalize trade relations between the U.S. and China, and is supported by the Bush administration due to the growing trade between the U.S. and China and the difficulty of rebuilding trade relations with China once they are broken. Opponents of the extension point to human rights abuses in China and argue that an extension would appear to condone the actions of the Chinese government. Opponents want extension of MFN status to be linked with progress in China's human rights record. Ambassador Qizhen argued in favor of the extension of most favored nation trade status on the grounds that Chinese coastal regions, the regions most in favor of democratic reforms, would be hurt the most by the break in trade relations.