Home>Congress>In response to human rights violations, Smith wants to pull China’s favored nation trade status

Rep. Christopher Smith. (Photo: U.S. House of Representatives).

In response to human rights violations, Smith wants to pull China’s favored nation trade status

New Jersey congressman chairs Congressional-Executive Commission on China

By David Wildstein, January 31 2023 11:32 am

A senior House Foreign Affairs Committee member wants to revoke China’s trade privileges with the U.S. until they end human rights violations and ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other minorities in Central Asia.

Legislation sponsored by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Manchester) would link China’s record on human rights issues with its favored nation trade status, requiring the President to certify each year that the Chinese Communist Party is “making serious and sustained improvement in respecting human rights.”

Smith maintains that former President Bill Clinton is to blame.

“Ever since President Clinton delinked trade with China from human rights in 1994, the Chinese Communist Party has been growing into an economic power, stealing American jobs and intellectual property while getting an absolute pass for its heinous human rights abuses,” said Smith.  “We must correct President Clinton’s horrific mistake and return to the pre-Clinton norm by making annual renewal of normal trade relations contingent on concrete progress on human rights.”

The second-ranking House Foreign Affairs Committee member, Smith, was recently named chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.  Smith has chaired 76 congressional hearings on human rights in China.

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