Russia & Belarus Trade Cutoff Legislation Advancing

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UNITED STATES CONGRESS

Russia & Belarus Trade Cutoff Legislation Advancing

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, and U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, Chair of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, are filing an updated version of their Russia trade cutoff legislation, which is the product of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, and which may come to the House floor as soon as tomorrow.

This legislation works to hold Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine by denying it preferential trade treatment and seeking its removal from the World Trade Organization. This updated version adds an import ban on Russian energy and suspends preferential trade treatment with Belarus, which has been aiding and abetting Russian aggression. The President receives the ability to further increase tariffs on Russian or Belarussian goods. Congress is empowered to disapprove of any Presidential decision to restore normal trade relations or to remove the import ban.

“President Zelensky and Ukrainians have shown the true meaning of courage in the face of death and destruction,” said Rep. Doggett. “While additional military equipment is their most urgent need, isolating Russia and Belarus is also vital. Our legislation closes yet another avenue for Russian participation in the world economy by revoking most favored nation treatment for their imports and seeking to both expel Russia from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and deny Belarus membership. Further, with our ban on Russian energy imports, Americans will no longer be contributing to Putin’s most important source of revenue.”

“Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine warrants a proportional response that does not directly engage in armed conflict,” said Rep. Blumenauer. “Terminating Permanent Normal Trading Relations, suspending Russia’s WTO membership, and banning oil imports will further isolate Putin and his cronies from the global economy for years to come.” 

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