Robert Matsui

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out to the Members of this body that three of the four former Presidents have endorsed most-favored- nation status for China: George Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Gerald Ford. All three of them have for this vote today. In addition, every former Secretary of Defense, Democrat and Republican, over the last 12 years has supported MFN for China. We have every Secretary of the Treasury over the last 16 years supporting most- favored-nation status for China. We have every Secretary of Agriculture and every Secretary of Commerce also supporting MFN for China, as well as every Secretary of State and every USTR, United States Trade Representative, that currently is alive. I might also mention, in terms of the issue of the trade deficit, many are making much out of the $40 billion trade deficit. One needs to look at the entire region, however. Because if we look at Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea, what we have seen is a commensurate reduction in their trade surplus with the United States as the trade deficit with China has gone up. So it is not a loss of United States jobs, it is a transfer of jobs from these four countries to China. That is exactly what is happening in that particular area. In addition, I might say that this really is not any longer an issue of trade, this is an issue of diplomacy. If we cut off most-favored- nation status with the Chinese, we will, in essence, cut off diplomatic relationship with the Chinese. What we are really talking about is what the United States-China relationship will be 10, 15, 20 years from now. I think that is what we should be focusing on. China has 21 percent of the world's population. As a result of that, that relationship will be the most critical relationship the United States will have. I urge a rejection of the resolution by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Millender-McDonald].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from America Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega]. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Deutsch].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Maloney].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Florida [Mr. Davis].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Bentsen]. (Mr. BENTSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Ford]. (Mr. FORD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. Berry].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Guam [Mr. Underwood]. (Mr. UNDERWOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri [Ms. McCarthy].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. Capps].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Green]. (Mr. GREEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Clement].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Roemer]. (Mr. ROEMER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce], ranking member of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services. (Mr. LaFALCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Dooley]. (Mr. DOOLEY of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California [Mrs. Tauscher]. (Mrs. TAUSCHER asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Blumenauer]. (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New York [Mr. Rangel]. (Mr. RANGEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Skelton].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Levin]. (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Kleczka].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Neal].

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Mrs. Kennelly], who has been a leader on welfare reform, tax policy, trade policy, and health care.