Chinese React Calmly to House’s OK of Trade Bill

As the political frenzy in Washington over trade with China died down, China itself took calmly the news that the U.S. House of Representatives had approved permanent normal trade relations between the two countries. The response of many Chinese on Thursday was positive but not ecstatic, relieved but not triumphant.

For several days, the Chinese media had reported that the measure was expected to pass both the House and the Senate. On Thursday’s China Central Television evening news, the House vote topped the international report, but that was 22 minutes into the half-hour program.

China’s equanimity reflects the fact that it expects to join the World Trade Organization with or without U.S. congressional approval of normal trade ties. But more important, Chinese have long anticipated being granted normal trade status by the United States and joining the WTO as logical steps in an irreversible process of reform and opening to the outside world.

In two decades of rapid economic growth, the Chinese have come to expect a constant and growing influx of new goods and ideas to try out and adapt to, from electricity to elections, from root beer to Rollerblades.

“For folks like us, joining WTO mostly means prices for foreign goods will be lower, for things like cosmetics and appliances,” said Mrs. Ma, a young housewife strolling near Beijing’s Temple of Confucius on a warm night.

“Oh, yes, and movies too,” she added. “I’ve seen all the imported films, like ‘Godzilla,’ ‘Notting Hill’ and ‘Star Wars,’ but right now they import too few of them.”

After 14 years of negotiations to join the WTO, the Chinese are already bracing for the economic dislocations that membership will bring, even as they relish the prospect of cheaper imports. Official Chinese media have reported that auto sales have slumped recently as consumers wait for accession to the WTO to bring down the prices of imported cars.

Among the most relieved at the news of the House vote were Chinese reformers, most of whom believe that following the WTO’s rules and improving ties with the United States will accelerate change in the country’s economy and political system.

“Originally, I was afraid that the measure wouldn’t pass and that Sino-U.S. relations would seriously regress,” said economist Mao Yushi, a prominent reformer whose calls for privatization have met with official criticism.

“If the measure failed, it would certainly increase ordinary people’s feelings of revulsion toward the U.S. and give them the impression that America was trying to impede China’s development.”

Chinese commonly express the view that their country’s human-rights situation is generally improving.