WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers said on Monday they would introduce legislation calling for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to admit Taiwan and China at the same time, in a move that could anger Beijing.
The nonbinding resolution, drafted by Republican Rep. Jennifer Dunn and backed by at least nine other lawmakers in the House of Representatives, could complicate Clinton administration efforts to round up congressional votes for its landmark trade agreement with China.
That agreement would open Chinese markets and clear the way for Beijing to join the WTO, which sets global trading rules.
China has insisted that it join the Geneva-based WTO before Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province. China has threatened to invade the island if it tries to declare independence.
But many lawmakers in the Republican-led U.S. Congress are staunch Taiwan supporters and want the Clinton administration to increase support for Taipei.
Dunn's resolution calls on President Bill Clinton to support the "simultaneous accession" of China and Taiwan into the WTO. The resolution directs U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky to "pursue this objective through negotiations with other WTO member countries."
The Clinton administration should also be prepared to "aggressively counter any effort by any WTO member country" to block Taiwan's entry, a draft of the resolution stated.
Dunn of Washington state is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for drafting trade legislation.
Earlier this month, the House overwhelmingly approved legislation to boost America's military ties with Taiwan over objections from China and the Clinton administration.
White House officials had warned that passage could upset Sino-U.S. ties before Congress votes on Clinton's market-opening trade agreement with China.
In exchange for China's reduction of barriers in areas from agriculture to telecommunications, Clinton must convince Congress to grant Beijing favorable access to U.S. markets -- so-called permanent normal trade relations status.
Permanent NTR would guarantee Chinese goods the same low-tariff access to U.S. markets as products from nearly every other nation. China currently benefits from this status on a year-by-year basis.
Dunn will support permanent NTR for China, a spokeswoman said.:
