They have a less bumpy path now to steer both American exports and values to the Asian power.

So the US is closer now to fulfilling the trade and democracy goals that so significantly drive its dealings with the world.

The House passed the China trade Bill by a 237-197 margin, a surprisingly comfortable cushion of votes for so contentious a battle.

This outcome testifies to the persuasive gifts of President Clinton and the pro-business instincts of the Republican leadership which, out of pragmatism, backed the man it impeached a year ago instead of giving him a legislative black eye.

It is also another reminder of how powerful and deep-pocketed big business is, and what a winner it can be when it lobbies incessantly.

President Clinton saw winners globally. He said: "The House of Representatives has taken a historic step towards continued prosperity in America, reform in China and peace in the world."

He had been single-minded in pushing the legislation, which will burnish his patchy legacy in foreign policy.

This parallels his success in winning approval of Nafta in 1993,sealing his reputation as the free-trade president, as he likes to see himself.

While the China trade vote is a huge personal victory, he has not created a consensus among the Democrats. Only 73 out of 211 Democrats voted for the Bill, or only 35 per cent.

The political disunity of the Democrats, at least on this issue, is damaging for their enterprise to retake the House in the November election, and he has to take some of the rap.

Overall, he has flung open one more door into China, a rising power that must be engaged. The hope is that substantial economic ties will smoothen the relationship, and create winners all round. From the business perspective, a rolling vista of Chinese profits awaits.

Chinese tariffs will be slashed for a plethora of farm and industrial products, while some barriers will be dropped for American services, like banks, insurance and telecommunications.

For instance, China will permit 49 per cent foreign ownership in telecommunications, a sector that the US is highly competitive in.

Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue called the vote "a victory of fact over fear and a historic win for the American economy and our national security".

The alternative is that US firms will not benefit from the sweeping market-access measures that the US negotiated last November.

Amid the jubilation, however, the lobbying blitz by corporate America and its campaign cash alienate Americans, who are weary of money politics.

The Clinton administration is also doling out political favours to wavering lawmakers who decided to come on board, and the pledges included a weather station, a zip code and gas pipelines.

One senior congressional aide whose Republican boss voted against the Bill criticised the "pork" in the deal-making.

He said of the winners: "President Clinton was willing to make many offers. The Republican leadership was willing to work with business leaders."

The Bill now moves to the Senate, but approval is nearly certain next month.

Copyright © 2000 Singapore Press Holdings

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