A Russian Rights Deal

Wall Street Journal

Senate leaders unveiled an agreement on Tuesday to revoke Cold War-era restrictions on trade with Russia and adopt new human rights legislation despised by the Kremlin.

Democratic Sen. Max Baucus, who chairs the Finance Committee, introduced a bill to establish permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia and repeal the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment, which was originally meant to pressure the Kremlin to treat Soviet Jews better. Ahead of Russia’s accession this summer to the World Trade Organization, U.S. companies will be disadvantaged on the Russian market without PNTR.

But the Obama administration will have to swallow new human rights legislation to replace Jackson-Vanik. In a letter, Sen. Baucus on Tuesday promised to include the so-called Magnitsky Act in the PNTR bill. Magnitsky sets out sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, for Russian officials implicated in human rights abuses. Sen. Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat, introduced the bill in 2010 after the death in police custody of Russian lawyer and whistle blower Sergei Magnitsky the previous year.

Senators John McCain (R) and Joe Lieberman (I) made their support for PNTR contingent on passage of Magnitsky. The White House had leaned on Democratic senators to stop or water down the legislation. President Obama has invested a lot of time and capital in the “reset” of relations with Russia, which has threatened to retaliate for Magnitsky. A new draft of the bill circulated by Sen. Cardin’s staff last week weakened some provisions, angering its Republican supporters.

Addressed to Senators McCain, Cardin, Lieberman and Republican Roger Wicker, the Baucus letter promises that the final Magnitsky text will have GOP support. They intend to restore the original, stronger language of Magnitsky. In return, Sen. McCain agreed to co-sponsor the repeal of Jackson-Vanik. His support can help bring along Republicans skeptical of PNTR. “As we take steps to liberalize U.S. trade with Russia, as we should, we must also maintain our long-standing support for human rights and the fight against corruption in Russia,” Sen. McCain said.

The deal avoids Democratic Sen. John Kerry’s Foreign Relations Committee, which had refused to move on the Magnitsky bill. The administration on Tuesday signaled its grudging acceptance by welcoming the introduction of the PNTR legislation.

Sen. Baucus said he hopes to get his bill a Senate floor vote before the August recess. The House last week moved its version of Magnitsky out of the Foreign Affairs Committee without PNTR included. A final package will likely have to be hashed out in House-Senate conference. unshaven girl микрозаймы онлайн https://zp-pdl.com/online-payday-loans-in-america.php https://zp-pdl.com/online-payday-loans-cash-advances.php быстрые займы на карту