Businessmen contest Jackson-Vanik amendment in court

Businessmen Eduard Lozansky and Anthony Salvia have filed a suit in a Washington court against the Cold War era Jackson-Vanik amendment, which prevents the U.S. from granting Russia “most favored nation” trading status which would offer reduced import tariffs and provide state loans and guarantees, Kommersant business daily said on Thursday.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden promised that the presidential administration would press Congress to repeal the amendment on his latest visit to Moscow in March.

But Lozansky said President Barack Obama needed no Congressional approval to cancel the legislation.

“We want to prove that President Obama has a constitutional right to cancel the Jackson-Vanik amendment without a vote in the U.S. Congress,” Lozansky was quoted by Kommersant as saying.

The U.S. government has only once tried to cancel the amendment, in 2002, when President George Bush asked Congress to do so.

However, Russia banned U.S. poultry imports soon after, prompting an end to discussion of the issue.

MOSCOW, April 21 (RIA Novosti)

Leave a comment