CLINTON TRADE BILL BECOMES LAW WITH SIGNATURE
Foreign Affairs Breaking News News
Source: UPI-BREAKING NEWS
Published: TUE. 10 OCTOBER 2000 20:43 (ET) Author: NONE
Posted on 10/10/2000 18:32:29 PDT by tparker
China trade bill becomes law with Clinton's signature Tuesday, 10 October 2000 20:43 (ET) China trade bill becomes law with Clinton's signature WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- President Clinton on Tuesday signed into law a landmark trade bill extending permanent "normal" trading status to China. Surrounded by a bipartisan group of members of Congress, the president signed the bill in a South Lawn ceremony. Clinton noted that the legislation took months of heavy lobbying by the administration and business leaders to get through Congress, but he said, "We overcame fears, misgivings, honest disagreements, to come together in a stunning bipartisan coalition. "One Republican House member shook hands with me today and the first thing he said is, 'I'm glad to see you, Mr. President. This is the first time I've ever come here since you've been here.' And I thought, well, if there had to be just one time, this is the time." Clinton added: "Because we did something together here that gives our children and our grandchildren the chance the live in a world that is coming together, not coming apart. It gives all of us the chance to meet the common threats of the future together as free and interdependent people." House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, said at the ceremony that because of the legislation "our farmers in the Midwest will see $2 billion increase a year for the next 10 years." He added that China offers "a huge group of folks, over a billion-plus strong, that are potential customers for not only United States products, but United States ideas as well." -- Copyright 2000 by United Press International. All rights reserved. -- |
