House votes to suspend trade relations with Russia and Belarus

In an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 424 votes to 8, the House has voted in favor of suspending normal permanent trade relations with Russia and Belarus in a new attempt to isolate Russia economically following the country’s policy. invasion of Ukraine three weeks ago.

The move follows President Biden’s announcement last week that countries in the United States, the European Union and the G7 were moving to revoke the trade status of Russia’s “most favored nation.”and that the U.S. would take steps to ban the import of Russian seafood, diamonds and vodka, he said.

The bill joins another measure passed by the House last week to ban imports of Russian oil and gas, which is awaiting Senate consideration.

The bipartisan bill was negotiated by House Ways and Means President Richie Neal of Massachusetts and Ranking member Kevin Brady of Texas, and was originally expected early last week, but Democratic leaders went delaying a vote because President Biden wanted to discuss the measure with allies, according to the House. Majority leader Steny Hoyer. It was another example of a more aggressive movement than the White House to look for ways to punish Russia for invasion.

One of the points of discussion during this week’s negotiations, said a GOP aide, was the conditions under which the president would be allowed to restore normal trade relations. The GOP wanted stricter standards, which were eventually reflected in the final bill: Russia must withdraw Ukrainian forces or cease military hostilities in an agreement accepted by the Ukrainian government; not to pose any immediate military threat to NATO and to recognize the independence of Ukraine. If Congress does not agree with the president that these conditions have been met, it may overturn the president’s attempt to re-establish relations with a resolution of disapproval.

The move also calls on the US trade representative to try to suspend Russia’s participation in the World Trade Organization and stop Belarus’ accession to the WTO and re-authorize sanctions under the Rights Responsibility Act. Magnitsky’s global human resources, which will allow the US to impose additional people. sanctions.

Broad bipartisan support meant that the bill was passed with an accelerated path that required a two-thirds vote. The eight “no” votes were all Republican: Andy Biggs of Arizona, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Chip. Roy of Texas.

The vote comes a day later Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed members of Congress and asked them “to make sure that the Russians do not receive a penny they use to destroy people in Ukraine. The destruction of our country, the destruction of Europe, all American ports should be closed to Russian goods “.

In a speech ahead of Thursday’s vote, Neal said Zelenskyy “showed us the absolute horrors that Russia is inflicting on the Ukrainian people, and begged us to do more.”

“With this bill, we are responding to your call today,” he said.