A political economic analysis of Congressional voting on permanent normal trade relations of China

The paper provides an empirical examination of the determinants of support for Permanent Normal Trade Relations Status (PNTR) for China in the United States Congress. A logistic regression model and control is estimated for both economic and political influences. It is found that business political action committee (PAC) contributions to lawmakers and the skill level of the constituency had a significant positive influence on lawmakers' voting in favour of PNTR. Political affiliation, import-competing industries in the constituency, labour PAC contributions, and lawmakers' political ideology had a significant negative influence on the PNTR vote.