The U.s. Congress Trade Policy Toward China And Its Impact On Sino-us Relations

With China's accession to WTO and expansion of bilateral trade afterwards, US trade policy in China gradually becomes one of the most attractive topics in Chinese academic circle. However, in US decision-making system, Congress plays a very important role. So it is necessary for us to study the laws of US Congress's trade policy in China.This paper fixes eyes upon US Congress's domestic politics and characteristics of its foreign trade policy decision-making, combining with vivid examples of bilateral conflicts on most favored nation treatment and other trade disputes occurring in 1990s of last century. Through the above, some characteristics of US Congress trade policy in China are drawn: trade policy in China are highly politicalized, relations between Congress and White House are both containment and cooperation, influence of interest group are widespread and deep in the whole process of decision-making, and trade policy in China often becomes victim of US domestic political conflicts. The reasons behind that cause the above features are: US domestic political conflict, pressure of interest group and social opinion, "Cold War Thinking" and "China Threatening Theory" . In addition, this paper analyzes the theoretic motive of US Congress's decision-making based on two theories--idealism and realism. The conclusion is: both idealism and realism are purpose that US Congress pursues persistently, and which one will be taken or how to apply them depends on the pragmatic situation. Through the above content, this paper also predicts US Congress' s negative effect on bilateral relations in the field of trade, security, human right, and Taiwan issue. Last part is my private suggestion to China government and conclusion of the paper as a whole.