Should China Retain Its Most Favored Trade Status with the United States?

In recent months there have been major product recalls on goods manufactured in China. We have seen anything from pet food, human food, to children's toys containing substances which the United States has deemed hazardous. It has come to the point that the media cannot even surprise us with the hook lines anymore. As soon as Americans hear, "Recall" they now assume it involves products manufactured in the Communist nation.

When China was given privileged trade status with the United States, under than President Bill Clinton, it was a point of contention. There were many Americans that were dumbfounded at this push by the Federal government to normalize trade with a communist nation, especially a country, which was considered to be hostile to the interest of the United States.

At the time there was a scandal involving then President Clinton where the government was being accused of selling our satellite technology, and the super computers which made the technology usable. It had seemed, to many Americans that the U.S. government had forgotten all about the, "1989 Tiananmen Square" incident, and China's human rights violations were forefront in the media.

However, even with the outcry of the American people protesting the Most Favored Trade status of China, the politicians saw fit to allow it anyway. There were stories floating around of possible campaign donations to President Clinton's re-election campaign. The campaign contributions from China were not just to the President himself, but it was widespread throughout the government. There were also stories of California Senator Dianne Feinstein supporting Most Favored Nation for China while her husband was involved in lucrative business deals with Chinese interest.