The document discusses China's Most Favored Nation (MFN) status and the treatment of dissidents in China. MFN status provides equal trade opportunities between nations. China's MFN status was suspended in 1951 and restored in 1974. In 1989, student protests in Tiananmen Square led to a massacre by the Chinese government. This caused Congress to threaten canceling China's MFN status multiple times in the 1990s. The document also discusses the arrest and exile of several Chinese political activists and dissidents for their pro-democracy views.
2. Most Favored Nation (MFN)
List
AKA National Trade • For Example quot;All countries
Relations that have MFN status will
• A status that is given to one pay no more than a $1 duty
nation in International to export televisions to the
Trade by the World Trade United States. If the United
Organizations States later negotiates a
• Provides an equal duty of 75¢ with Japan for
opportunity for all imported televisions,
countries, big and small Indonesia and all other
MFN countries will pay 75¢,
despite Indonesia's original
agreement to pay more
duty.”
3. MFN HISTORY
• A move from Protective
Tariffs to Free Trade in
the beginning of the
20th Century
• Started with Jay’s Treaty
• Protects countries from
in 1794
discrimination that
comes along with Free • …and the Open Door
Trade Policy of China
• Was enacted in 1934
4. China’s Most Favored Nation Status
Background
• The Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1951
suspended the MFN status of the Soviet Union
and affiliates
• After the Trade Agreements Extension Act of
1951 was passed, the MFN status of China
was suspended
• Restored in 1974 with the Trade Act of 1974
5. Tiananmen Square Protests
• The protests were led by student and
intellectuals
• Started with the death of Hu Yaobang, a pro-
democracy official
• 100,000 people attended the funeral
• Lasted seven weeks
6. Tiananmen Square Massacre
• June 4, 1989 Beijing
• Chinese government’s reaction to protest
• Several Hundred protesters and soldiers were
killed and over 7,000 people were wounded
7. Consequences
• A cancellation of China’s MFN was threatened
by Congress three times in the early 1990’s.
• President Bill Clinton renewed MFN status
with China despite of Congress’ feelings.
• Human Rights Conditions were set against
China
8. Dissidents
• People who disagree with a government or
powerful organization such as the students in
The Tiananmen Square Incident
9. Treatment of Chinese Dissidents
• Many Chinese Political Activists were detained
or exiled for their pro-democracy views.
10. Recently,…
• Zhou Yongjun, a man that was very active
during the Tiananmen Incident, was arrested
• Yang Jianli was refused entry into China
11. My Advice To President Obama
• I think the United States should defend the
rights of the many Chinese Dissidents held in
Prison for their democratic beliefs. Through
peaceful negotiations and incentives with and
for the Chinese government, The United
States of America should help free these
people and prevent another Tiananmen
Incident in the future.
