DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: News from the nation's capital now, labor leaders saying that the Clinton administration's push for permanent, normal trade relations with China could lead to massive job losses in the U.S. They are planning a major protest today on Capitol Hill. CNN's Kathleen Koch joins us now. She's at the Capitol with more. Kathleen, good morning.</s>KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Small groups of labor protesters have already begun to arrive here on Capitol Hill. Eventually organizers expect some 13,000 union workers from across the country to rally to show their opposition to normalizing trade relations with China. Now they contend that giving Chinese goods the same low tariff access to U.S. markets that most other countries enjoy could undermine workers' rights in China and perhaps even lead to massive job losses here in the United States.</s>BRET CALDWELL, TEAMSTERS' SPOKESMAN: We believe that there should be an annual review of China's trade status with America and not a permanent review. We believe that we need to maintain our leverage with China, and as really the only remaining superpower in the world we need to remain the moral guide and protect workers in this country, but workers throughout the world.</s>KOCH: The Clinton administration points out that in exchange for normal trade relations, China has agreed to open more of its markets to U.S. goods, something that would help U.S. workers and the U.S. economy. And supporters here on Capitol Hill have offered even a bill up that would set up a watch dog committee to review China's policies and even recommend sanctions if Beijing doesn't improve its human rights record. Still there's a great deal of opposition in the House of Representatives. So the labor protesters here are going to be heading up to the Hill to lobby, after their rallies, and ask lawmakers just to vote no when this issue comes up in the week of May 22. Back to you.</s>KAGAN: Kathleen Koch, Capitol Hill, we'll let you get out of the nasty weather there. Thank you. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web
Labor Rallies on Capitol Hill Against Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China