WASHINGTON may add conditions to renewal of China's Most Favoured Nation (MFN) trading status, requiring Beijing to stop alleged human rights and weapons treaty violations.
United States Secretary of State Mr Warren Christopher told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday that his assistant Mr Winston Lord ''did not make as much progress as we hoped'' in discussions on human rights, trade, and arms proliferation.
The top diplomat said the US was also concerned about China's coercive family planning policies, and reports of China's transfer of missiles to Pakistan.
Although Mr Christopher declined to commit to adding conditions to China's MFN status, he indicated US President Mr Bill Clinton had been strongly considering such an idea.
''It's a matter in which there is going to have to be considerably more progress if we are to look forward to the kinds of actions we hope to take toward China,'' Mr Christopher told the House.
Mr Clinton will decide by June 3 whether to renew China's MFN status, and with what conditions.
Citing growing differences with China, Deputy US Trade Representative Mr Rufus Yerxa predicted on Tuesday that Mr Clinton would be forced to attach conditions.