Stop the Untouchables. Justice for Sergei Magnitsky.

No House Vote on Bill to Lift Trade Barriers With Russia

Morningstar

House Republican leaders won’t bring legislation that would permanently lift trading restrictions with Russia before the congressional summer recess, a House Republican leadership aide said, delaying until the fall a debate on whether to lift one of the remaining Cold War-era economic barriers with the former American foe.

There had been a strong push to bring the legislation forward before the month-long recess begins next week. Ultimately the momentum fell short after several major labor unions, including the AFL-CIO, urged lawmakers to oppose the legislation in a concerted messaging effort last week.

The bill would permanently lift the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a measure that places trading restrictions on countries that seek to place controls on emigration. It initially became law in 1974 and was aimed squarely at Russia.

Since the end of the Cold War, the bill has been repealed annually by Congress. But with Russia set to join the World Trade Organization in August, the U.S. must permanently strike the measure from its books in order for American exporters to be able to compete for a larger share of Russian trade.