November 16, 2012
Contact: Josh Britton
Phone: (202) 225-5037
E-mail: Josh.Britton@mail.house.gov

House Passes Rokita-Cosponsored Bill to Establish Normalized Trade Relations with Russia

Eli Lilly and Company also releases statement applauding bill’s passage

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita (IN-4) issued the following statement after the House passed the Rokita-cosponsored “Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal Act,” H.R. 6156, on a vote of 365-43.  The bill was referred favorably by the Ways and Means Committee in July.

The bill establishes Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia and Moldova, and it would enable the United States and key Hoosier industries to benefit from Russia’s admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on August 22.

“This bill will increase opportunities for American goods and services in the Russian marketplace, and will finally allow American workers to compete on a level playing field with other workers in the world market.  Now, it’s time for the Senate to act on this important, bipartisan jobs bill,” said Rokita.

Indiana employers of all types have strongly supported this effort – including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Pork Producers Council, Eli Lilly and Company, Caterpillar, Inc., General Motors Company, and Zimmer, Inc.

The Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal Act repeals an amendment to the 1974 Trade Act which pressured the Soviet Union to allow emigration of victims of religious persecution. That amendment succeeded in its goal, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union two decades ago, Russia allowed freedom of emigration for all citizens. Since 1992, U.S. presidents have issued yearly certifications declaring that Russia is in full compliance with the Jackson-Vanik amendment.

H.R. 6156 acknowledges the completion of the objectives in the Jackson-Vanik amendment and would repeal the amendment so that normalized U.S.-Russia trade relations can occur in conjunction with Russia’s admission to the WTO.

Russia has the world’s ninth largest economy, and its growing middle class presents a significant opportunity for American businesses. Among the United States’ top fifteen trading partners, Russia was the market where American companies enjoyed the fastest export growth last year. The President’s Export Council has estimated that U.S. exports to Russia – which were estimated to be more than $11 billion in 2011 – could be two or three times higher after Russia joins the WTO.

Eli Lilly and Company also released a statement applauding the House’s passage of H.R. 6156:

“Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) applauds the strong House vote passing Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia. 

“Russia’s accession into the World Trade Organization provides innovative biopharmaceutical companies strong intellectual property and foreign investor protections.  

“Without Congressional passage of PNTR, U.S. investors such as Lilly do not have these critical protections and that is why today’s House vote was such an important step towards passage of PNTR. 

“Lilly particularly applauds the strong vote by the Indiana delegation.  Emerging markets such as Russia are critical to the future growth of Lilly and hence keeping good jobs in Indiana.  

“We urge the Senate to move expeditiously in this lame duck session to pass PNTR so that Lilly and other U.S. companies are not left behind in the Russian marketplace.” 

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