COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, WORLD NEWS: U.S. president Bill Clinton is enjoying a significant international relations victory. The House of Representatives has passed a bill granting permanent normalized trade relations with China. The Senate is now expected to approve the legislation. It was a hard-fought win for Mr. Clinton, who faced the opposition of organized labor. CNN's John King reports on a White House push to get this bill passed.</s>JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Congresswoman Julia Carson walked into the White House at 11:02, back out 43 minutes later, a quick visit that nonetheless earned her this distinction - the last undecided Democrat to meet face-to-face with President Clinton before the House cast its verdict in the China trade debate. Administration sources tell CNN Mr. Clinton spent the afternoon on the phone looking for two or three more votes from a target list of 10 undecided Democrats, including Max Sandlin of Texas, Owen Pickett of Virginia, Alcee Hastings of Florida, and Grace Napolitano and Henry Waxman of California. The calls brought to a close an aggressive White House lobbying campaign that included a mix of public appeals, private persuasion and a little legislative horse-trading.</s>JOE LOCKHART, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Certainly some members have talked about how this vote might impact their district, and to the extent that we can address those, we do.</s>KING: The president has called it the most important issue Congress will debate this year and views the trade agreement as the gateway to building more trust between Washington and Beijing. The White House team also knew a big defeat would weaken the president heading into the election-year budget battle. Few dispute the economic benefits of more trade with a market of 1.2 billion people, but liberals and labor unions object to the deal because of China's human rights record, and the debate has deeply divided the Democrats. (on camera): The administration plan is to move quickly from celebration to reconciliation, beginning with a White House health care event Thursday designed to put the president's focus back on the issues on which the Democrats speak with one voice. John King, CNN, the White House.
U.S. House Of Representatives Passes China Trade Bill