By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Opponents of President Clinton's landmark trade pact with China will intensify their lobbying campaign on Tuesday, with "fair trade" caravans through Texas and Massachusetts and television ads featuring grim footage of Chinese sweatshop workers.
Their goal is to pressure dozens of undecided Democrats in the House of Representatives to oppose permanent trade benefits for Beijing, which labor leaders said could undermine workers' rights in China and lead to losses of 800,000 or more U.S. jobs.
The AFL-CIO labor federation singled out Democratic Reps. Peter Deutsch and Carrie Meek of Florida, and at least 13 other lawmakers in this week's lobbying blitz, hoping to shore up opposition forces before the House votes on the market-opening pact in late May.
Activists have also targeted Democratic Reps. Lloyd Doggett of Texas and Thomas Allen of Maine, among others, in what looks to be this year's biggest legislative fight. The Teamsters and other unions have threatened to retaliate in the November congressional election against Democrats who support the pact.
"Public opposition to the president's China trade proposal is overwhelming," said Scott Nova, director of the Citizens Trade Campaign, which organized the caravans. "We're holding events in key districts to make sure members of Congress understand exactly where their constituents stand."
To counter labor's campaign, Clinton on Monday spoke by telephone to several Democrats, urging them to support the pact, according to White House spokesman Joe Lockhart.
Clinton's allies said they remained confident the market-opening agreement would garner support from 70 to 80 House Democrats, along with 150 Republicans -- enough to ensure passage in the 435-member House.
House Democrats Opposed
In the Senate, the pact has broad support. Aides expect Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts to endorse the trade deal in early May, putting pressure on other Democrats in the pivotal state to follow suit.
The trade agreement, which would pave the way for China's entry into the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO), calls on Beijing to open a wide range of markets, from agriculture to telecommunications.
In exchange, Clinton says, Congress must grant China permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) -- a status it now enjoys only after an annual congressional review. PNTR would guarantee Chinese goods the same low-tariff access to U.S. markets as products from nearly every other nation.
But the trade agreement faces stiff opposition from a majority of House Democrats. Their union allies have demanded that China improve human rights and labor standards before Congress gives it unconditional access to the U.S. market.
On Tuesday, the 13-million member AFL-CIO will begin airing television ads in 15 congressional districts, urging viewers to lobby lawmakers to vote against the pact. The spots include footage of prison laborers and warn of rising trade deficits and unemployment.
Also on Tuesday, the Citizens Trade Campaign -- representing the Teamsters, the environmental group Friends of the Earth and Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch -- will launch a "No Blank Check for China" caravan through Texas, with stops in Dallas, Austin and Houston.
Along the way, human rights, labor rights and environmental activists will target the Texas offices of Democratic Reps. Doggett and Ruben Hinojosa, among others.
A second caravan will leave on Tuesday from Biddeford, Maine, with stops in Massachusetts and New York. It will target Allen, Democrats Richard Neal and Edward Markey of Massachusetts, and Democrats Jose Serrano, Nita Lowey and Anthony Weiner of New York.
In Florida, the AFL-CIO is planning a rally on Tuesday with hundreds of union members, aimed at putting pressure on Deutsch and Meek to oppose trade benefits for China. Activists will also target Republican Rep. David Weldon of Florida.
China Mission Scrapped
Pressure from organized labor has already taken its toll on Clinton's top legislative priority for his final year in office. The White House was forced to scrap an April 14-20 congressional mission to China after lawmakers dropped out.
The White House chose to proceed with this week's trip, led by Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, even though only four House members will take part.
In another victory for organized labor, House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt announced last week that he would oppose permanent trade benefits for China. The announcement was criticized by high-tech business leaders, prompting some to suggest they would shift financial support to Republicans.
California Democratic Rep. Robert Matsui, one of Clinton's closest allies in the trade fight, warned business against putting "sanctions" on Democrats because of Gephardt. If they do, Matsui said he may "reconsider" his support for PNTR.
The House is scheduled to vote on the pact in the week of May 22-26. The Senate, where passage is virtually assured, is expected to vote in the first week of June.:
