Grassley: Senate Likely To Pass PNTR

by | Nov 27, 2012 | Audio

Speaking to farm broadcasters Tuesday, Senator Chuck Grassley voiced his and the Senate’s support for legislation passed in the House earlier this month granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to Russia.

The so-called “Russian package” containing a repeal of the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment, which linked trade penalties to emigration rights in the Communist Bloc, and its replacement by the Magnitsky provision, which punishes individuals linked to the 2009 death of a Russian lawyer as well as other human rights violators, as well as legislation granting Russia PNTR was passed by the House on November 16 with a vote of 365-43. If enacted, the legislation would allow the US to double its exports to Russia over the next 5 years.