31.   He asked Martin Lee, a leading Hong Kong democrat who supports permanent trade ties, to help him lobby Congress.

32.   He said granting permanent trade status would also increase the likelihood that more democratic reforms will take hold in China.

33.   He urged the Senate to approve permanent normal trade relations with China, as the House has already.

34.   Hoyer is co-chair of the Democratic Steering Committee and the highest ranking Democrat so far to come out in favor of permanent trade relations with China.

35.   If Congress does not lift the annual review and grant Beijing permanent trade status, China could still enter the World Trade Organization with support from the Clinton administration.

36.   In recent sessions, he pushed for approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement and permanent normal trade relations with China.

37.   It has downplayed efforts to start the new WTO round and instead is concentrating on trying to ensure congressional passage of legislation giving permanent trade benefits to China.

38.   It was a short intellectual leap to granting permanent trade status.

39.   Labor unions have subjected these lawmakers to an intensive campaign, as have other groups opposed to granting China permanent normal trade relations.

40.   Last year, spurred on by the persistent American business lobby, Congress approved permanent normal trade relations with the Chinese.