PNTR Status Could Double American Exports to Russia in Five Years, Spurring U.S. Economy

Dec. 6, 2012

Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement by former Senator Charles Robb and former Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans, co-chairs of the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Russia Initiative, praising legislation passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, which graduates Russia from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, grants the country Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status and holds Russian officials accountable if they violate human rights. The legislative language passed by Congress echoes recommendations developed and promoted by BPC in its Russia report released earlier this year:

“We applaud the passage of the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal Act of 2012 by the U.S. Congress that graduates Russia from the Cold War Jackson-Vanik Amendment, extends Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status to Russia and holds Russian officials accountable for human rights violations. As co-chairs of the Russia Initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center, we believe this legislation is critical for U.S. manufacturing, agricultural and business sectors to take full advantage of Russia’s new membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), while also advancing our values in human rights and civil society.

“This is a big win for American businesses by putting them on the same playing field with other global companies in one of the fastest growing markets in the world for U.S. goods and services. The legislation has the potential to spur U.S. job creation and growth, doubling American exports to Russia in five years.”

“We believe this legislation is a big step toward modernizing U.S.-Russia relations for the benefit of both countries. BPC praises House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) for introducing this important legislation.”

As BPC highlighted in its report, A Bull in Bear’s Clothing: Russia, WTO and Jackson-Vanik, failure to repeal the Jackson-Vanik Amendment and extend PNTR status would have given Russia legitimate grounds under WTO rules to discriminate against U.S. businesses, causing the United States to lose market share to companies from the European Union and East Asia.

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Foreign Policy Project, Russia Initiative