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Senate China vote postponed in hope of Bush progress

Supporters of legislation that would penalize China because of its currency practices said on Wednesday they were delaying a Senate vote on the issue in hopes President George W. Bush could resolve the dispute while in Beijing.

Senators Lindsey Graham and Charles Schumer said they had an agreement with Senate leaders to postpone the vote until at least December.

The proposal, which had the support of 67 senators on a procedural vote last spring, would impose tariffs of 27.5 percent on all Chinese goods entering the US unless China did more to allow its currency to rise in value against the US dollar.

Bush, who is on a weeklong trip to Asia, will be in Beijing tomorrow and Sunday.

"We are hopeful the president's trip to China will achieve positive results," Schumer said in a Senate speech. "We hope and pray that China will move on the issue."

Schumer said under the agreement with Senate leaders, the sponsors will have the right to call up the legislation for a vote before Dec. 23. They also could wait and have a vote before March 21.

Graham said he was "guardedly optimistic" Bush will make progress.
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