Letter to House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp and Ranking Member Sander Levin

“We are proud to serve as co-chairs of the Russia Task Force at the Bipartisan Policy Center. We authored a report, released in January 2012, that calls on Congress to enact legislation that graduates Russia from Jackson-Vanik. As our report states in clear detail, we believe the United States must extend PNTR status to take full advantage of Russia’s WTO membership. This will encourage economic recovery by significantly expanding U.S. exports to Russia, creating more U.S. jobs across a range of important economic sectors, and ensuring favorable market access for U.S. companies. With Russia embedded in the WTO’s institutions and commercial laws, the United States will also have a stronger set of tools for protecting its investors and resolving trade disputes. Failing to grant PNTR status would permit Russia to discriminate against U.S. trade and businesses, thus hurting job creation and economic growth here at home. We agree the United States cannot afford to miss this opportunity. Congress must act in a timely fashion to graduate Russia from Jackson-Vanik.”