Although by no means a prophet, but I have predicted a few things that are becoming realities now including removal of China's most-favored-nation (MFN) status.
China's accession into the WTO was based on the assumption that it will keep its side of the bargain as a civilized nation. Well, we all know by now China has failed to deliver on most of them. Given China's poor track record, an annual review of its trading status is actually the most appropriate mechanism to deal with it. You cannot extend credit to a rogue nation that doesn't care about credibility.
Based on current situation of sino-US relationship, particularly after China spy balloon incident, China's most-favored-nation (MFN) status has bocme a joke. It is ridiculous
I can further see a comprehensive international technologies export control scheme is in the works. It will be very difficult for China to acquire technologies from the West once it is in place. China's heyday is over.
CoCom has prevented the USSR from accessing the technologies from the West during the Cold War, resulting in a generational gap. Similar embargo against China will dial back its progress as well.
Based on current situation of sino-US relationship, particularly after China-spy-balloon incident, China's most-favored-nation (MFN) status has become a joke. It is ridiculous
据美国之音报导,美国国会及行政当局中国委员会(CECC)新任主席、共和党众议员克里斯·史密斯(Chris Smith)美东时间1月31日连同共和党众议员汤姆·蒂凡尼(Tom Tiffany)提出2023年版本的“中国贸易关系法案”(China Trade Relations Act of 2023),要求废除中国的永久性正常贸易关系(PNTR)地位,以回应中国共产党针对维吾尔人和其他中亚少数民族的侵犯人权行为。
1月27日,共和党参议员汤姆·科顿(Tom Cotton)、里克·斯科特(Rick Scott)、泰德·巴德(Ted Budd)和詹姆斯·戴维·万斯(J.D. Vance)也在参议院提出了同名法案。
史密斯众议员主持过76次讨论中共严重侵犯人权行为的国会听证会。他被新任众议院议长麦卡锡任命为国会及行政当局中国委员会主席。这位长期关心中国人权事务的共和党众议员之前也曾担任过这个两院两党委员会的主席和资深成员。
蒂凡尼众议员说:“美国绝不应该让种族灭绝和奴隶劳工成为美国贸易的‘永久’或‘正常’部分。现在是时候让我们停止忽视普遍存在的侵犯人权行为,停止将其视作共产主义中国的‘商业成本’,并恢复国会对中国‘最惠国’贸易地位的年度审查了。”
“正常贸易关系”之前被称为“最惠国”(MFN)。1980年代,美国政府曾逐年审议中国的贸易最惠国待遇,但每年都予以延长。在中共1989年天安门事件后,美国国会1990年决定不再延长中国的贸易最惠国地位,但被老布希总统否决。此后,每年中国都有在美国国会的年度审议期间因为人权问题而丧失贸易最惠国地位的可能。1994年,柯林顿行政当局将中国的贸易地位与人权状况脱勾。
1998年,美国立法将“贸易最惠国待遇”更名为“正常贸易关系地位”。2000年,美国给予中国永久性正常贸易关系地位,这也为中国加入世界贸易组织铺平道路。
与去年版本一样,今年的众议院议案版本将中国的贸易地位与其人权记录重新联繫起来,并要求总统每年确认中共在尊重人权方面正在认真和持续地改进,如此才能在贸易协议中获得优惠待遇。参议院的法案同样要求总统每年在国会批准下更新中国的贸易地位。
参、众议员推出法案与法案获得众议院或参议院委员会及全院通过还有一段距离。一部法案必须由众议院和参议院两院通过同样版本,并由总统签署,才能成为法律。