Mr. Speaker. today the President submitted to the House and the Senate the bilateral commercial agreement signed on July 7 by representatives of the United States and the Peoples Republic of China. a proclamation extending nondiscriminatorymostfavorednationtreatment to the products of the PRC. and an Executive order waiving the application of the freedom of emigration requirements under section 402 of the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to the PRC. As provided under section 405(c) of the Trade Act. the United StatesChina trade agreement and the proclamation extending MFN treatment to imports from the PRC shall take effect only if both Houses of Congress adopt the concurrent resolution approving the extension of MFN treatment within 60 legislative days. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade. I am announcing the beginning of public hearings to be held November 1 and 2 to consider this latest significant step toward normalization of United StatesChina political and economic relations. Additional hearing dates will be announced as needed. Because of my tremendous concern about Soviet reaction to Peoples Republic of China preference on MFN treatment and the impact it can have on the current high level of Soviet emigration. I had hoped that we could face both issues at the same time and treat the two countries in an evenhanded manner. However. the current SALT controversy and the Cuban issue have obscured the situation. Therefore. we should not hold .up consideration of MFN for the Peoples Republic of China because of the current status of the Soviet issue. It is my sincere hope that before Congress concludes its action on consideration of MFN for China. an administration recommendation may be forthcoming for MFN for the Soviet Union and that the Soviets may assist in this matter by continuing a high level of emigration and by making substantial progress on the release of longstanding emigration applicants and prisoners of conscience.*
Keywords matched
emigration