The United States and China have rarely seen eye to eye, and the latest disagreement concerning human rights is certainly not surprising.

President Clinton must have enough courage to go through with his threat to revoke China's most-favored-nation status if human rights do not improve by a June deadline. Following through on the threat would demonstrate that the United States, above all else, values the lives of people over international trade and commerce.

The issue facing the United States is human rights. China is one of the world's more powerful nations, yet its people lack many basic democratic rights -- from the right to assemble in protest to the right to pursue a free and private family life. Our country has continually requested China to change its policies and grant its people the rights they deserve, even threatening political action. It has now come to the point that we must revoke China's favorable trade position and raise tariffs on their goods; a move that could terminate already tenuous relations with the Communist country.

Unfortunately, China has failed to respond. The country has not made the slightest move to improve conditions for its people. Instead, it has welcomed the threat by implying the move will hurt the United States more than it will hurt China.

Clinton is left with no choice. The United States cannot continue to do business with a country that fails to value its citizens, even if it hurts the United States and some of its companies economically. Past presidents have not been afraid to use economic leverage in the past. Sanctions have helped accomplish change in South Africa, and more recently in Vietnam. Raising tariffs for China, instead of just threatening such an action, may force Chinese leaders to eventually rethink their human rights policies.

If America is to remain a world leader, it must be prepared to follow through with its threats and commitment to human rights. Unless China makes significant changes in the way it treats its people, the United States must revoke the most-favored-nation status.