§6902 Policy

Summary

The United States must build trade ties that raise — not lower — worker, environmental, business law, market access, anti‑corruption, and other standards across borders. It must enforce trade and international commitments using international organizations’ tools and U.S. law when appropriate. The government must also push other countries to run their commercial and noncommercial affairs under laws made through democratic processes. The United States must urge the Government of the People’s Republic of China to give its workers internationally recognized worker rights. The United States must press the Government of the People’s Republic of China to protect human rights and take steps such as ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; protecting freedom of movement, the choice of residence, and the right to leave and return to China; and providing criminal defendants rights including being tried in their presence and defending themselves or having chosen legal help, being told that right if unrepresented, having counsel assigned when needed and free if they cannot pay, a fair and public hearing by an independent tribunal, presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and a trial without undue delay. The United States must also call out human rights violations at the United Nations Human Rights Commission and other forums and seek other governments’ support to improve human rights practices.