Rep. Becerra Endorses Controversial China Trade Bill

One week before a showdown trade debate begins in the House, Rep. Xavier Becerra--a Democrat who is running for mayor in Los Angeles--declared Monday he plans to vote for a controversial China trade bill in the hope of influencing the Asian nation through a policy of engagement.

Becerra is one of many House Democrats--several of them from Southern California--who have been squeezed by powerful opposing lobbies in what may be the most important congressional vote of the year.

Lined up behind the bill, which would grant China permanent normal trade ties, are the Clinton administration, many business groups, the House Republican leadership and a sizable minority of House Democrats espousing free trade.

Opposed are the top two House Democrats, most of organized labor and many critics of China’s communist regime on the right and the left. The opponents say Congress should continue its current practice of reviewing China’s trade status once a year.

The outcome, strategists on both sides say, is too close to call. The House debate and vote are scheduled for next week. Passage would require a simple majority in the 435-member chamber.

Proponents had been counting on Becerra’s vote because in previous years he had generally supported trade with China and such measures as the North American Free Trade Agreement. Still, the 42-year-old four-term representative had delayed making up his mind on this issue, putting him on a short list of key names to watch as the vote nears on Capitol Hill.

Engagement Rather Than Isolation

His ambition to become mayor of Los Angeles in an election next April made the decision that much more complicated. But other candidates for the mayoralty--City Atty. James K. Hahn, City Councilman Joel Wachs, Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa and real estate broker Steve Soboroff--so far have not dwelt on the issue.

In a telephone interview Monday, Becerra said that what weighed most heavily as he made up his mind was a question posed by one of the many people who have pressed him on the topic in recent weeks: What policy would help bring China closer to democracy?

“To me, engagement is just a wiser course than isolation,” Becerra said. “As far out as I can see, I think this path looks better than the ‘no’ path.”

But Becerra warned that he, like some other Democrats, would not be able to vote for the trade bill without a companion measure that would create a new U.S. panel to monitor human rights in China and would improve U.S. monitoring and enforcement of China’s trade commitments. Such legislation has been proposed by Reps. Sander M. Levin (D-Mich.) and Doug Bereuter (R-Neb.), and has gained favorable reviews from the White House.

As Becerra announced his intention, the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee prepared for preliminary votes on the China bill scheduled for Wednesday. Becerra is a member of Ways and Means. The meeting of that committee should shed light on how some other Democrats plan to vote, including Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), who ranks fifth in seniority among House Democrats.

Other prominent, undecided lawmakers at the top of the watch list on Capitol Hill include Democratic Reps. Howard L. Berman of Mission Hills and Henry A. Waxman and Julian C. Dixon, both of Los Angeles.

Some Southern California lawmakers already have announced their opposition, including Reps. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Carson), Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), Joe Baca (D-San Bernardino) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach). But the bill’s supporters include Reps. David Dreier (R-San Dimas), Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-San Diego).

Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach), who is undeclared, is pushing his own companion measure to preserve congressional scrutiny of China’s human rights record; its prospects are uncertain.

Becerra Has to Think Locally Too

The China trade vote is especially critical for Southern California lawmakers, Becerra said, because of the key role of trade in the Los Angeles economy.

“It’s hard not to want to promote more trade for this country, and for the benefit of Los Angeles and its residents. When so many people in Los Angeles depend on trade to keep their jobs, it’s important for trade through the busiest port in the nation to continue.”

But Becerra acknowledged that some people in Southern California are not seeing the benefits of expanded global commerce.

“It doesn’t surprise me that for a lot of Angeleno members of Congress it’s a tough vote,” he said. “We see the merits of both sides.”