ROSEMARY CHURCH, WORLD NEWS: United States president Bill Clinton says he's encouraged by the growing support in Congress for trade legislation with China. The House of Representatives is expected to vote next week on a bill for permanent normal trade relations with Beijing. The issue is turning leading Republican and Democratic politicians into unlikely allies. CNN's Major Garrett explains.</s>MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even as George W. Bush made his comments on the China trade issue, President Clinton continued his relentless appeal to Congress. In a commencement speech at the Coast Guard Academy, Mr. Clinton warned that failure to extend free trade to China would harm America's security and economic future.</s>BILL CLINTON, U.S. PRESIDENT: I believe that a no vote invites a future of dangerous confrontation and constant insecurity. It also, by the way, forfeits the largest market in the world for our goods and services, and gives Europe and Japan all those benefits we negotiated to bring American jobs here at home.</s>GARRETT: Bush joins a long list of unusual Republicans siding with the administration on the China vote - House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, along with House Majority Leader Dick Armey and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. Senior congressional Republican sources say that if Congress approves permanent free trade with China, they plan to take the credit for delivering a majority of the votes the president needed. Senior GOP sources say Bush decided Tuesday to elevate his public support on the China trade issue. However, GOP leaders declined Bush's offer to lobby wavering Republicans and Democrats, saying they feel increasingly confident about next week's vote. (on camera): White House officials say they are happy to have Bush's support, but since Mr. Clinton has taken most of the political risks and heat, departing from his congressional leadership on the issue, they believe he deserves most of the credit if they win. Major Garrett, CNN, New London, Connecticut.
Republicans And Democrats Are Allies On U.S.-China Trade Issue