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Jackson-Vanik Amendment Could Be Cancelled for Russia
Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Rep. Tom Lantos, who is in Moscow now, has vowed to prompt the Congress to end application of Jackson-Vanik Amendment to Russia.
The congressman came up with his promise during the news conference held in the Interfax headquarters Wednesday. Lantos looked absolutely determined to bring to an end the Jackson-Vanik amendment in respect of Russia and predicted it could happen in the near term.
The Jackson-Vanik Amendment is contained in Title IV of the 1974 Trade Act. It effectively denies unconditional normal trade relations to Russia, linking them to execution of trade agreements with the United States as well as non-violation of civil rights and freedom, including the emigration rights. In fact, it restricts supplies of some high-end product first to the Soviet Union and then to Russia.
Since 1994, Russia has been found in compliance with the Amendment's freedom of emigration requirements. Though the president’s administration has been advocating ending the application of the Jackson-Vanik provisions to Russia since 1990s, the actual cancellation requires the sanction of Congress, which is in no hurry to provide it.
www.kommersant.com
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