Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced a bill on Tuesday that would tie China’s trade privileges in the United States to improving its deplorable human rights record, requiring the communist government to shut down concentration camps, stop harvesting the organs of political prisoners, and cease “economic espionage” it wishes to enjoy normal trade relations with America.
Smith outlined in a statement the legislation intends to prevent China from continuing to get an “absolute pass” from Washington on its long list of human rights atrocities, ranging from silencing dissidents to repressing people of faith to genocide against non-Han ethnic minorities. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) cosponsored the bill, titled the China Trade Relations Act.
The bill addresses communist China’s current near-total access to the American market as a result of being granted Permanent Normal Trade Relations status in light of its joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2000. Congress greenlit promoting China to America’s friendliest trade status under pressure from President Bill Clinton that year, who had dedicated tremendous efforts in foreign policy to granting China the benefits of trade with the free world without making any changes to its repressive political system. China ultimately joined the WTO in 2001 with the blessing of Clinton’s predecessor, George W. Bush.