Rights groups criticized Mr. Christopher's determination that China had cooperated on ending the export of prison-made goods.

Those are cooperation on ending the export of prison-made goods to the United States and allowing close family members of certain dissidents to leave the country.

Asia Watch accuses China of mixing prison-made goods with legitimate exports to confuse foreign clients.

Governments can purchase their needs from prison industries, but they do not have to purchase prison-made goods.

American law forbids the import of prison-made goods, but the law has never been applied to exclude Chinese goods.

This afternoon, these prison-made goods would be shipped away, and a new consignment would be started on the morrow.

American law has long banned the importation of prison-made goods from anywhere.

Finally, U.S. law prohibited the transport of prison-made goods across state lines.

Most prison-made goods today are only for government use-but the state and federal governments are not required to meet their needs from prison industries.

Twentieth-century laws limited sale of prison-made goods to government agencies.