Washington, D.C. - Representative Dina Titus, co-chair of the Kazakhstan Caucus, introduced legislation today to take the necessary steps to provide permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status to Kazakhstan which will lead to greater economic opportunities for American workers and companies. 

The Jackson-Vanik Amendment was adopted by Congress as Title IV of the broader Trade Act of 1974, which granted the President authority to negotiate trade agreements. The Jackson-Vanik Amendment further withheld favored trade status from “non-market” economies that restricted emigration. The principal target of the amendment was the Soviet Union, which had imposed severe restrictions on emigration of Jews and other religious minorities. The U.S. has previously granted PNTR status to Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, China, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Romania, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Russia.

"Kazakhstan's Soviet-era exclusion from Permanent Normal Trade Relations is outdated. Kazakhstan has been documenting its compliance with Jackson-Vanik annually since it achieved independence in 1991 and The United States has routinely certified Kazakhstan’s compliance for almost 30 years. Despite this, Congress has yet to permanently normalize our trade relations with Kazakhstan,” said Congresswoman Titus. “The new status will provide Nevada companies with the certainty they need to do business with Kazakhstan, allowing them to plan better and create more jobs.”

“The Cold War-era Jackson-Vanik Amendment is holding back Hoosier families, workers, and farmers from competing in the global market with Kazakhstan. While Jackson-Vanik was implemented as an important safeguard in 1974, Kazakhstan has met its ‘graduation’ requirements for nearly 30 years,” said Congresswoman Jackie Walorski. “By ending these restrictions and extending permanent normal trade relations (PNTR), our bipartisan legislation would open doors for Americans to take advantage of Kazakhstan’s lower tariffs and market reforms – cutting costs for families and relieving burdens on our vital manufacturing and agriculture industries.”

“As a Co-Chair of the U.S.-Kazakhstan Caucus and a strong supporter of our bilateral economic ties, I’m pleased to cosponsor this important legislation,” Congressman Steve Chabot said. “Kazakhstan is in a critical part of the world with powerful neighbors and a young democracy. Greater economic integration will benefit both of our nations and support Kazakhstan as it seeks to develop deeper ties with the West.”

Original co-sponsors of this legislation include Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02), Rep. Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), and Co-Chair of the U.S.-Kazakhstan Caucus Rep. Steve Chabot (OH-01).