Justice

China Opposed to Linking Human Rights to Passage of PNTR

Agence France Presse BEIJING, May 11 (AFP) - China said Thursday it opposed any plans by the United States to set up a group to monitor human rights as a condition to granting permanent normal trade relations. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said such a watchdog body constituted interference in China's internal affairs.

Rights Commission Key for China Trade Bill-Daley

By Adam Entous WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House warned on Thursday there was little chance of passing permanent trading benefits for China without legislation setting up a watchdog commission to monitor Beijing's human rights.

China: Constructive Partner or Emerging Threat?

by Ted Galen Carpenter and James A. Dorn Ted Galen Carpenter and James A. Dorn are scholars at the Cato Institute and coeditors of the forthcoming book China's Future: Constructive Partner or Emerging Threat?

Bipartisan Proposal Aims for China Trade Compromise

LA Times / By NICK ANDERSON, Times Staff Writer WASHINGTON--Putting a stamp of bipartisanship on efforts to find compromise on China trade, a key House Republican versed in Asian affairs and a Democratic trade expert on Tuesday unveiled a joint proposal to answer concerns about human rights and other issues raised by a controversial trade normalization bill.

Imports Are Good for You

The Washington Post / By Sebastian Mallaby

Monitoring China

San Jose Mercury News / EDITORIAL The opinion of the Mercury News

Clinton Proposes USTR Labor Office Responsible for Core Labor Standards

Daily Report For Executives To address concerns for the labor aspects of trade policy-making, President Clinton is establishing a new labor office within the Office of the United States Trade Representative, White House Chief of Staff John Podesta said in a May 3 letter to Reps. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) and Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).

ADB Pledges to Fight Poverty

Reuters Asia's top banking showcase drew to a close on Monday amid tight security with promises of a region-wide fight against poverty. The last day of the Asian Development Bank annual meeting in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai focused on an ADB plan to channel hundreds of millions of dollars into targetted anti-poverty programmes.

Unocal ""Smoking Gun"" Alleged

By William Branigin / Washington Post Staff Writer Attorneys for a group of Burmese refugees say they have discovered a "smoking gun" document supporting their claims that a major U.S. oil company should be held accountable for human rights violations related to construction of a natural gas pipeline in Burma.

U.S. Panel Urges Congress to Reject China Pact

By Adam Entous WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A commission appointed by the White House and Congress urged lawmakers on Monday to deny permanent trading benefits to China, citing Beijing's crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement and other religious groups.