TEXT B President Clinton’s
decision on Apr. 8 to send Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji packing without an
agreement on China’s entry into the World Trade Organization seemed to be a
massive miscalculation. The President took a drubbing from much of the press,
which had breathlessly reported that a deal was in the bag. The Cabinet and
White House still appeared divided, and business leaders were characterized as
furious over the lost opportunity. Zhu charged that Clinton lacked "the courage"
to reach an accord. And when Clinton later telephoned the angry Zhu to pledge a
renewed effort at negotiations, the gesture was widely portrayed as a
flip-flop. In fact, Clinton made the right decision in holding
out for a better WTO deal. A lot more horse trading is needed before a final
agreement can be reached. And without the Administration’s goal of a
"bullet-proof agreement" that business lobbyists can enthusiastically sell to a
Republican Congress, the whole process will end up in partisan acrimony that
could harm relations with China for years. THE HARD PART. Many
business lobbyists, while disappointed that the deal was not closed, agree that
better terms can still be had. And Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin, National
Economic Council Director Gene B. Sperling, Commerce Secretary William M.
Daley, and top trade negotiator Charlene Barshefsky all advised Clinton that
while the Chinese had made a remarkable number of concessions, "we’re not there
yet," according to senior officials. Negotiating with Zhu over
the remaining issues may be the easy part. Although’ Clinton can signal U. S.
’approval for China’s entry into the WTO himself, he needs Congress to grant
Beijing permanent most-favored-nation status as part of a broad trade accord.
And the temptation for meddling on Capital Hill may prove over-whelming. Zhu had
barely landed before Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss) declared
himself skeptical that China deserved entry into the WTO. And Senators Jesse A.
Helms (R-N. C. ) and Emest F. Hollings (D-S. C. ) promised to intro4uce a bill
requiring congressional approval of any deal. The hidden message
from these three textile-state Southerners: Get more protection for the U. S.
clothing industry. Hoping to smooth the way, the Administration tried, but
failed, to budge Zhu on textiles. Also left in the lurch: Wall Street,
Hollywood, and Detroit. Zhu refused to open up much of the lucrative Chinese
securities market and insisted on "cultural" restrictions on American movies and
music. He also blocked efforts to allow U. S. auto makers to provide fleet
financing. BIG JOB. Already, business lobbyists are
blanketing Capitol Hill to presale any eventual agreement, but what they’ve
heard so far isn’t encouraging. Republicans, including Lott, say that "the
time just isn’t right" for the deal. Translation: We’re determined to make
it look as if Clinton has capitulated to the Chinese and is ignoring human,
religious, and labor rights violations; the theft of nuclear-weapons technology;
and the sale of missile parts to :America’s enemies. Beijing’s fierce
critics within the Democratic Party, such as Senator Paul D. Wellstone of
Minnesota and House Minority leader Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, won’t help,
either. Just how tough the lobbying job on Capitol Hill will be
become clear on Apr. 20, when Rubin lectured 19chief executives on the need to
discipline their Republican allies. With business and the White House still
trading charges over who is responsible for the defeat of fast-track trade
negotiating legislation in 1997, working together won’t be easy. And
Reptjblicans-with a wink say that they’ll eventually embrace China’s entry
into the WTO as a favor to Corporate Amcrica. Though not long before they
torture Clinton. But Zhu is out on a limb, and if Congress overdoes the
criticism, he may be forced by domestic critics to renege. Business must make
this much dear to both its GOP allies and the White House: This historic deal is
too important to risk losing to any more partisan squabbling Who plays the leading part in the deal in America