Smith Votes to Uphold Fair Trade Practices

Washington, DC – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 6156, the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012:

“Since Russia joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) this summer, Nebraska exporters have been at a competitive disadvantage to their foreign counterparts because the U.S. has not established permanent normal trading relations (PNTR) with Russia.  Passage of this legislation will give Nebraska exporters of beef, poultry, eggs, and manufactured goods such as center pivot irrigation systems, a level playing field in the Russian market and provide a forum in the WTO to hold Russia accountable for unfair trading practices.

“I will continue to monitor the situation to ensure Russia fulfills its WTO commitments, and to seek new trading opportunities for Nebraska.”

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