US Congress could reinstate law prohibiting trade with Russia
Joe Wilson considers the reset of relations with Russia a mistake (Photo: Getty Images)
A bill has been introduced in the US Congress to restore the Jackson–Vanik Amendment to halt trade with Russia, states US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson.
"After the attack on Poland, I’m grateful to introduce this bill to reimpose Jackson-Vanik on Russia cutting off all trade with this terrorist dictatorship," the congressman wrote.
He also commented on the previous administration, calling the reset of relations with Russia a mistake, noting that it encouraged Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to occupy Crimea.
"President Obama and John Kerry wrongfully repealed this law during the misguided Russia Reset which encouraged war criminal Putin to occupy Crimea," Wilson wrote.
He also expressed confidence that US President Donald Trump would correct the situation.
"Trump will fix it," the congressman concluded.
What the Jackson–Vanik Amendment is
The Jackson–Vanik Amendment is a US law passed in 1974.
It prohibited normal trade with countries with a bad (non-market) economy if those countries restricted the emigration of their citizens (for example, Jews from the USSR). Essentially, it was a tool to pressure the Soviet Union.
After the USSR collapsed, the law technically continued to apply to Russia. However, US presidents would annually suspend it to allow trade.
In 2012, the amendment was formally repealed and replaced with the Magnitsky Act, which imposes sanctions on specific Russian officials.
