U.S. Lawmakers Reaffirmed Willingness to Lift Jackson-Vanik Trade Restrictions for Kazakhstan

Orda.kz reports that during his official visit to Washington, Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with several high-ranking U.S. legislators, including Senator James Risch, Congressman Robert Aderholt, and Representative Carol Miller of the Subcommittee on Commerce.

Murat Nurtleu stressed the importance of partnership with the United States and proposed to intensify ties between the parliaments of the two countries. Senator Risch, in turn, noted Kazakhstan's stable foreign policy and expressed support for strengthening trade relations, including the establishment of permanent normal trade conditions,
 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan 

U.S. lawmakers reaffirmed their readiness to help repeal the Jackson-Vanik Amendment — a Cold War-era trade restriction that still applies to Kazakhstan. Originally adopted in 1974 to pressure the Soviet Union over emigration policies, the amendment has long since outlived its relevance for countries like Kazakhstan, which has met international trade norms for over 30 years.

As Orda.kz previously reported, a bipartisan group in the U.S. House of Representatives has again submitted a bill to formally repeal the Jackson-Vanik Amendment for Kazakhstan and grant the country Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status.

Congressman Robert Aderholt added that eliminating outdated trade barriers would support U.S. interests in Central Asia.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov