U.S. corporations say they are raising environmental and labor standards in China, an attempt to head off criticism from unions, enviros, and human rights groups that want to keep China out of the World Trade Organization. A report by the Business Roundtable, a group of 200 corporate executives, highlights Eastman Chemical for having model safety and environment programs at its Chinese plants and BP Amoco for helping Chinese schools teach students about the environment (uh oh). But critics say China’s human rights record has deteriorated as economic ties between the U.S. and China have strengthened. U.S. companies “reinforce China’s power to suppress the right of workers to organize a union or an environmental organization,” said Xiao Qiang of Human Rights in China.
