WASHINGTON Traficant joins the call to revoke trade status

China's detention of 24 American service men and women is the primary reason for the letter from members of Congress.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. along with 15 other congressmen sent a letter to the House leadership calling for the immediate scheduling of a vote to revoke China's Permanent Normal Trade Relations status.
The letter came in response to the Chinese government's recent 11-day detention of 24 Americans, including Shawn Coursen, whose parents live in Niles.
"As a result of that incident, there will be added attention to China's trade status with Congress back in session today," said Charles Straub, Traficant's spokesman.
Traficant, of Poland, D-17th, has been a frequent critic of this country's trade agreements with China.
"My boss voted against giving trade status to China a year ago and still feels it's an important issue that needs to be looked at," Straub said. "He has been warning Congress and the America people that China is a legitimate threat, and he's very concerned about the trade imbalance."
Other Ohio congressmen signing the letter were Sherrod Brown of Lorain, D-13th, whose district includes western Trumbull County; Ted Strickland of Lucasville, D-6th, and Dennis Kucinich of Cleveland, D-10th. Of the 16 Congress members who signed the letter, 15 are Democrats and the other is U.S. Rep. Bernard Sanders, an Independent from Vermont who often votes with Democrats.
Letter: "While we believe that the United States should have a positive and friendly relationship with China, and we do not want to see another Cold War, we believe that PNTR with China is not accomplishing that important goal," the letter reads.
China having Permanent Normal Trade Relations, what used to be known as Most Favored Nation status, allows the country to have normal trade relations with the United States without tariff or quota restrictions, Straub said.
But trading has been virtually one-sided in favor of China since that country received the trade status, Straub said.
This country's trade deficit with China is the largest in the world and has increased from $57 billion in 1998 to $83.8 billion in 2000, the letter reads.
Human rights: The letter also criticizes China for its human rights and environmental records and warns that China is increasing its military buildup, which is "a major worry for both Taiwan and the United States."
The letter reads: "Recent events show that giving China a blank check for trade has not worked."