Russia’s trade status revocation hits snag

Legislation to revoke normal trade relations with Russia has hit a snag in the US House of Representatives over procedures for possibly re-establishing the relationship in the future.

Republicans and Democrats disagree on how much power President Joe Biden should have to restore the status of “MFN” of Russia on trade and what Russia would have to do to regain that position, according to lawmakers participating in the talks.

Biden announced last week that the United States, along with other G7 and European Union countries, would revoke the status in response to the Ukraine invasion, putting Russia in the same category as other rogue states such as North Korea and Cuba. . Doing it in the United States requires legislation. But what was expected as a swift response from Congress has been delayed by disagreements over the details.

The House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyersaid Wednesday that he was hopeful the legislation could be finalized this week and acknowledged delays in talks.

The removal of the status will allow the United States to impose higher tariffs on Russian products, as well as other measures. What complicates the talks is that this could also negatively affect the US economy.

Lawmakers are still discussing the parameters of what Russia would have to do for the United States to consider restoring normal trade relations and how much the White House and Congress would have to say to determine whether Russia has met those requirements, according to a lawmaker who participate in the conversations.

Negotiators are also discussing how soon after Russia meets those requirements, the United States could begin the process to restore the relationship, according to the lawmaker who requested anonymity.

The Texas Representative Kevin Bradythe top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, said he is advocating keeping a measure that was part of an earlier version of the bill that would allow Congress to disapprove of resuming normal commerce if Biden wanted to reopen that relationship. Brady he noted that the White House and Democrats want the bill to offer more flexibility for the president to act unilaterally.

“So since this is a legislative change, the disapproval resolution is important to maintain Congress’s role in deciding when to properly restore those permanent normal business relationships.“, he pointed.

Senate leaders have not yet committed to moving the bill forward if it passes the House.