Tom Lantos, the chairman of the U.S. Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee, who is currently on an official visit to Moscow, said that the time has come to rescind the amendment.
The 1974 Jackson-Vanik Amendment links U.S. trade benefits, known as Normal Trade Relations (NTR), to the emigration and human rights policies of Communist or formerly Communist countries. The amendment has been lifted for many of Russia's former Communist allies, but still remains in force for Russia.
Lantos suggested that such carry-overs from the Cold War should be left behind, and promised to do everything possible to ensure the amendment's abolition.
The congressman added that he expected constructive and positive cooperation between Russia and the United States, despite current tensions.
Russia and the United States are currently in a dispute over American plans to deploy elements of its missile shield in Central Europe. Moscow strongly opposes the deployment of a missile shield in its former backyard in Central Europe, describing the plans as a threat to Russian national security.
