wfn.org | China's entry into World Trade Organization challenged

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Nov. 19, 1999 News media contact: Joretta Purdue*(202) 546-8722*
10-33-71B{621}

NOTE:  Full text of Fassett's letter is at the close of this story.

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - Now is not the time to extend World Trade Organization
membership to China, according to the Rev. Thom White Wolf Fassett, staff
executive for the Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist
Church.

In a statement released Nov. 18, Fassett said such membership should be
withheld until China demonstrates "a greater commitment to human rights,
workers' rights, and environmental protection."  

The General Conference, the only group that speaks officially for the
church, has said that trade agreements should be accompanied by binding and
enforceable mechanisms with respect to labor and human rights; agriculture,
environmental standards, and health and safety standards.  "The agreement to
bring China into the World Trade Organization does not pass this test,"
Fassett declared.

Acknowledging that the Clinton administration has made an effort to raise
issues of human rights, labor rights, and religious freedom with the
Chinese, Fassett said little has changed.  "The current detention of members
of the Falun Gong sect and suppression of the groups suggest that the
Chinese policies have changed in the wrong direction."  Other religious
leaders and democracy activists still languish in jail, he added.

#  #  #

General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society of
The United Methodist Church calls for slowing of China's entry
Into World Trade Organization (WTO)

A statement by the Rev. Thom White Wolf Fassett*
November 18, 1999

Every year when the issue of trade relations with China has been debated, we
have watched carefully for signs of improvement in China's human, labor, and
environmental rights record. We generally support expanded trade.  We have
been pushing the Congress and Administration to expand trade with Cuba.  We
have been waiting to see if the Administration's overtures to China lead to
changes in China's actions before opposing China's entry into the World
Trade Organization.  In the past year, despite promises from the Clinton
Administration that China's policies were improving, we have observed
slippage in the most basic rights in China.

The persecution of indigenous people and their religions is of special
concern to me.  The situation of the Tibetans is most well known, but all of
the 50 or so indigenous peoples  China experience restrictions of their
freedoms.

The Clinton Administration has made an effort to raise issues of human
rights, labor rights, and religious freedom with the Chinese, but little has
changed.  The current detention of members of the Falun Gong sect and
suppression of the groups suggest that the Chinese policies have changed in
the wrong direction.  Other religious leaders and democracy activists still
languish in jail.

China's respect for basic labor and environmental protections has likewise
not improved.  Where China is weak, the World Trade Organization is also
weak.  We believe now is not the time to extend membership in the World
Trade Organization to China until the WTO itself has demonstrated a greater
commitment to human rights, workers' rights, and environmental protection.
We support continued trade with China, but believe it is best regulated by
annual reviews of China's progress toward better human rights, labor right,
religious freedom, and environmental protection.

The General Conference of The United Methodist Church called for trade
agreements to have binding and enforceable mechanisms with respect to labor
and human rights; agriculture, environmental standards and health and safety
standards.  The agreement to bring China into the WTO does not pass this
test.

*Only the General Conference speaks for the entire denomination.  The
General Board of Church and Society is the international pubic policy and
social action agency of The United Methodist Church.

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
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