L.A. Area Chamber Backing China Trade

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce plans to lobby for congressional approval of permanent U.S. trade ties with China when more than 20 of its members visit Washington this week. Part of an annual lobbying trip to the nation’s capital, the chamber delegation also plans to seek support for expansion at Los Angeles International Airport, approval of a new terminal at Burbank Airport and conversion of the El Toro military air base. The group, which has scheduled meetings with congressional representatives and members of the Clinton administration, is also expected to press for $136 million to improve mass transit in the region. Chamber President Ezunial Burts said passage of permanent trade relations with China would benefit the region’s 5,700 import and export businesses and the industry’s 900,000 employees. In what is expected to be a close vote, the House of Representatives is to decide later this month on legislation to expand trade with China that is backed by business and being pushed by President Clinton.