Chamber Releases New China Trade Ads

WASHINGTON, DC—The United States Chamber of Commerce today released new radio ads to air in targeted congressional districts and in Washington, D.C., calling on Congress to pass permanent normal trade relations for China (PNTR). The ads were distributed during a press conference with more than two dozen small business owners from 21 states favoring PNTR.

"This deal opens China's markets to American products made by American workers," said Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue. "Business owners are calling on Congress to give them the opportunity to compete in the Chinese markets."

Without PNTR, U.S. companies will be forced to stay at home and watch while Germany, Japan, Brazil and others enjoy new, lower tariffs in China negotiated by the United States, according to the Chamber. The trade deal with China cuts average industrial tariffs from 35 percent to 10 percent and cuts agriculture tariffs in half by 2004 – boosting U.S. exports by $13 billion in five years, with agricultural exports increasing by $2.2 billion per year, according to administration estimates.

"Do the math. Nearly 1.3 billion people live in China, 20 percent of the world's population," said Donohue. "But their economy only produces 3 percent of the world's goods and services. They only have 7 percent of the arable land. This trade agreement opens that market to American businesses, workers and farmers."

At the press conference with Govs. Edward Schafer (R-ND) and Paul Cellucci (R-MA), Reps. J.C. Watts (R-OK) and Cal Dooley (D-CA), the Chamber and the companies urged Congress to give American firms the ability to sell their products and services to China.

"This is the most important trade vote in a generation," said Donohue. "Under this deal, China must open its markets and follow the same trade rules that the U.S. already follows. All the U.S. must do is pass on a permanent basis something it's done on an annual basis for the last 20 years."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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