Although Brooks ultimately received unconditional renewal of its license, it settled with a class action lawsuit for $12,250,000.

Despite efforts to stress Chinese cooperation, Wu also indicated there was only so much Beijing could do to ensure unconditional renewal of MFN.

"We've made it clear all along that we would like to see unconditional renewal of MFN," Governor Chris Patten said this week.

Several Democratic senators later cited the letter as an important reason for their decision to cross party lines and support an unconditional renewal.

Bush Fights for China President Bush has been struggling to win Congress's permission for an unconditional renewal of China's most-favored-nation trade status.

These need to be taken seriously, especially by Washington, which pressed so vigorously for unconditional renewal.

The legislation will then go to President Bush, whose advisers say they will recommend a veto of any bill not providing for unconditional renewal of China's trade status.

China threatened to retaliate against American exports if either measure passed, and Administration officials said President Bush would veto any legislation that did not call for an unconditional renewal.

The Foreign Ministry expressed appreciation of President Bush's announcement on Tuesday that he was recommending unconditional renewal of low-tariff trade benefits for China.

The testimony gave support to opponents of the unconditional renewal of China's trade status with the United States.