The US House of Representatives voted to lift Cold War-era trade restrictions on Russia on Friday, but courted Moscow’s ire by passing new rules on suspects in the killing of a Russian lawyer.
The repeal of archaic legislation, which has yet to be confirmed by the Senate, reflects Russia’s ascension to the World Trade Organization.
But the lawmakers also attached new riders to the law that provoked a furious reaction from Moscow, which threatened to retaliate against what it called a “brazenly unfriendly and provocative attack.”
The House voted overwhelmingly to end the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which since 1974 has required the president to certify to Congress that Russia meets human rights standards when it comes to permitting Jewish emigration.
Long a thorn in relations, the law came into question when Russia joined the World Trade Organization in August. This put Jackson-Vanik in conflict with WTO mandates that any advantage granted by one WTO member must be extended to all.
Jewish emigration is no longer a major issue but some lawmakers remain opposed to the normalization of commercial relations with Russia due to human rights concerns and in light of arms sales by Russia to the Syrian regime.
US Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk applauded the House vote to rescind the 1974 law by an overwhelming 365 to 43 votes.
“The House made an important vote today to support American businesses’ and workers’ access to the Russian market on a level playing field with their global competitors,” he said.
The Senate is expected to vote in favor of the House legislation.
The House vote, though, left Russia fuming.
Legislators attached to it new legislation which would compel the US government to freeze the assets of and deny entry to anyone tied to the 2009 death of the Russian anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.
Russia’s foreign ministry called the House passage of the so-called Magnitsky Act “an anti-Russian legislative initiative” and “a brazenly unfriendly and provocative attack.”
“The congressmen did not heed repeated warnings that this move would negatively affect the general atmosphere of Russian-US relations and will not be left without a tough response on our part.”
“If someone in the Congress believes that one can talk to Russia using a language of sanctions and ultimatums replacing the obsolete anti-Soviet Jackson-Vanik amendment with its new edition under the guise of supposed ‘concern’ about human rights then such calculations do not have a future.
“There should be no illusions: retaliatory measures from us will follow for sure, and the United States will be wholly responsible for this.”
US makes double-edged gesture to Moscow on trade
