Agence France Presse
WASHINGTON, April 13 (AFP) - Foes of White House plans to grant Beijing permanent trade benefits on Thursday gave US lawmakers set to travel to China a "Propaganda Survival Kit," which included toy handcuffs, union cards, and Bibles.
The canvas tote bags, meant for ten Republican and Democratic House members going on the White House-planned visit Friday, also included two US dimes symbolizing the average Chinese hourly wage, a Tibetan flag sticker, a plastic bottle marked "clear air" and a report on dog and cat furriers in China.
The kits' creators -- representatives of human rights groups, a major labor union, and animal welfare and environmental groups -- said they hoped to draw lawmakers' attention to rights abuses and unfair competition from low-wage or even slave labor in China.
In a statement, the group said bags had already been delivered to about 90 lawmakers undecided about whether to back granting permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) to China in a vote set for the week of May 22.
Doing so would end an annual review procedure that currently precedes granting Beijing the low-tariff status. PNTR opponents say the yearly process gives Washington leverage on issues like human rights and arms proliferation.
The White House has planned two weeklong trips to China for lawmakers in a bid to win them over for what promises to be a pitched legislative battle over PNTR in the House of Representatives.
The measure is expected to clear the Senate easily.:
