Legislative Background
Recent Action on China Trade
Since 1980, China has enjoyed MFN, or most-favored-nation (normaltrade relations), status in its trade with the United States,with the condition that such status must be reconsidered annuallyby the President and Congress in compliance with the Jackson-Vanikfreedom-of-emigration amendment to the 1974 Trade Act. While billshave been introduced at various times since 1980 to withdraw orseverely restrict China’s MFN status, Congress has failed to enactthem.The Shift from MFN to NTR. On July 22, 1998, President Clinton signed into law a bill that replaced the term "most favored nation" with "normal trade relations" (NTR) in U.S. Trade law. The intent was to dispel…
