11 March 2003
Lugar Urges Repeal of Jackson-Vanik Amendment for Russia
(Senator introduces bill providing permanent normal trade relations) (530) Senator Richard G. Lugar (Republican of Indiana), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a bill March 10 to exempt Russia from the provisions of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to the 1974 U.S. Trade Act and to authorize the President to grant permanent normal trade relations to Russia. The amendment denies permanent normal trade relations to communist countries that restrict emigration rights. "Since 1994, successive Administrations have found Russia in full compliance with the requirements of freedom of emigration," Lugar said. "While Russia currently receives normal trade relations treatment with respect to its exports to the U.S., " he said, "repealing Jackson-Vanik will remove the requirement of semi-annual reports that have been an irritant in U.S.-Russia relations." Following is a press release from his office: (begin text) United States Senate Richard G. Lugar United States Senator for Indiana (Republican) March 10, 2002 LUGAR INTRODUCES BILL TO IMPROVE TRADE WITH RUSSIA U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar today introduced legislation to repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Title IV of the 1974 Trade Act as it relates to Russia and to authorize the President to grant permanent normal trade relations to Russia. "Congress passed the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment to deny permanent normal trade relations to communist countries that restricted emigration rights. Over the years, it has been an effective tool to promote free emigration, but its continuing applicability to Russia no longer makes sense in the context of the many changes that have occurred since the fall of the Soviet Union," Lugar said in a statement introducing the bill. "Since 1994, successive Administrations have found Russia in full compliance with the requirements of freedom of emigration. Because Russia continues to be subject to Jackson-Vanik, the Administration must submit a semi-annual report to the Congress on Russia's continued compliance with freedom of emigration requirements. Since 1991, Congress has authorized the removal of Jackson-Vanik restrictions from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Kyrgyzstan, Albania, and Georgia. The conditions that have warranted these countries' removal from Title IV reporting apply equally to Russia. "For more than 8 years, Russia has satisfied the requirements of the Jackson-Vanik legislation. It has supported free emigration and it has signed a bilateral trade agreement with the United States allowing the application of normal trade relations status. Last year, the United States declared that Russia would no longer be considered a nonmarket economy for the purposes of trade remedies laws. Russia has made tremendous strides in the last decade. While Russia currently receives normal trade relations treatment with respect to its exports to the U.S., repealing Jackson-Vanik will remove the requirement of semi-annual reports that have been an irritant in U.S.-Russia relations. Granting permanent normal trade relations also will provide certainty that will improve the investment climate and promote enhanced economic relations between the U.S. and Russia," Lugar said. Lugar introduced the same Jackson-Vanik repeal legislation last year. The Bush Administration supports the bill. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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