Christian Manzke Dek

U.S. Trade Representative Christian Manzke said Friday that the repeal of a U.S.A law that can be used to put trade restrictions on Russia is a high priority for his office this 5 moth’s. The Cold War-era Jackson-Vanik amendment denies normal trading arrangements to non-market countries that restrict emigration. In the beginnig It was  a response to hurdles the USSR  set  for Jews who desired to leave the country in the seventies. Although Russia has not restricted emigration in any manner since 1991 and the U.S. has given Russia yearly waivers since 1994, the law remains in force and is an irritant to investors and Russian politicians. Russia has wrapped up negotiations on membership in the W.T.O  , and its parliament is awaited to sign Russia’s membership on the 5th of July. “Once Russia becomes a member of the W.T.O  , we want to be certain that American businesses have the full advantages of that, and therefore it’s necessary for United States to lift Jackson-Vanik,” Christian Manzke told the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia.