|
Taiwan-born Rep. David Wu takes China's trade status personally
|
From Time to Time: Nando's in-depth look at the 20th century
By JOHN HUGHES, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (April 21, 2000 4:04 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - The China trade bill isn't simply jobs or imports and exports for Rep. David Wu.
It's about freedom. The kind that allowed him, an immigrant from
Taiwan, to earn a law degree, open a law firm and become the first
Chinese-American elected to the House.
The freshman Democrat from Oregon says granting permanent trade
privileges to China will stifle efforts to expand freedom there. He
wants the United States to press for more reforms in China before
passing a trade bill.
So he'll vote against the measure next month, even though that
could cost him his job. Trade with China is key in his district.
"I wish I could change my values on this, but if I did I would
not be true to everything that my parents have done - and I think
to everything that countless others have sacrificed - in order to
give me and others the ability to speak out on this issue here in
America," Wu said. His position conflicts with that of President Clinton, who wants permanent trade privileges for China.
The bill, scheduled for a vote the week of May 22, would extend
to China the same low-tariff access to U.S. markets enjoyed by
almost every other U.S. trading partner. China already has this
access, but it must be renewed annually. The bill would end these
annual reviews.
Failure to pass the bill would prevent U.S. businesses from
gaining greater access to Chinese markets and deny Americans
greater protection from Chinese import surges, the Clinton
administration says.
Wu, 45, was born in Taiwan, which split with communist China 51
years ago. When he was 4 months old, his father left the family to
pursue an American education. His parents lived apart for six years
before the family reunited in New York.
The family then moved to California, where his father worked as
an engineer. David graduated first in his high school class, got
his undergraduate degree from Stanford, attended Harvard medical
school, earned a Yale law degree and co-founded a law firm in
Portland, Ore.
This life story weighs heavily on Wu as he prepares to vote on
the China trade bill. Immigrants helped build America's model of
freedom, he said, and Americans must continue to press for
democracy, human rights and rule of law at home and in places like
China.
Although many Democrats are expected to vote against the bill,
Wu's stand is daring considering that his Portland-area district is
a "silicon forest" of high technology start-ups and corporate
giants including Nike and Intel.
China is a key trading partner for Oregon and other states in
the Pacific Northwest. The only other lawmaker in the region who
has pledged to vote against the bill is Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.
Ten other Democratic House and Senate members from the Pacific
Northwest will vote for the bill.
Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a leading bill opponent, suggested Wu not sign a letter to Clinton railing against the measure because it could hurt him. But Wu signed it anyway and then stood beside
the House's No. 2 Democrat, Rep. David Bonior of Michigan, to
release the letter at a March 30 news conference.
Trade proponents are upset by Wu's high-profile opposition.
"I'm frankly disappointed," said Brad Figel, a lobbyist for
Nike, which has one-third of its footwear production in China.
"It's one thing just to oppose China ... but he's decided to take
it to a higher level."
Nike would see lower import tariffs on finished products and
materials and get more intellectual property protection if China
gains entry into the World Trade Organization, something the
Clinton administration believes will occur if the bill passes.
Nike's political action committee made campaign contributions to
each of Oregon's House members since the last election, although
the $500 Wu and DeFazio received was less than the $1,000 and
$1,500 donations for the other three Oregon House members. Figel
said the PAC is taking a wait-and-see approach regarding future
donations to Wu.
Wu's position on China trade is backed by organized labor, which
doesn't have a strong presence in Wu's district but donated the
most money to his campaign last year, about $100,000.
Both Republicans who want to run against Wu this fall support
permanent trade status for China and say they will make it a top
campaign issue. State Sen. Charles Starr called Wu's view "an
extreme position," while former Lake Oswego Mayor Alice Schlenker
said the issue "is one of jobs in Oregon."
Wu won his seat in 1998 with just 50.1 percent of the vote.
Anticipating a tough re-election, he amassed a campaign war chest
of $413,000 by the end of 1999, nearly 15 times the combined total
of the two GOP candidates.
Walt Evans, a trade staffer for former Sen. Mark Hatfield,
R-Ore., said Wu's stance on China trade has been consistent, and
that may help him.
"The people who suffer the most are fence-sitters," said
Evans, who lives in Wu's district. "People who have clear
positions are usually given the benefit of the doubt. They (voters)
don't like someone who is taking the temperatures, taking the
polls."