Moscow threatens to ignore WTO rules in US trade
Associated Press, Moscow | Wed, 01/18/2012 3:32 PM
Russia's foreign minister says the country will not abide by its World Trade Organization commitments with the U.S. unless Washington scraps a trade law that dates back to the Cold War.
Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday that the U.S. must repeal the Jackson-Vanik law, which was passed in 1974 and denies Russia normal trade relations status. It was originally used to pressure the Soviet Union to allow emigration, primarily of Jews.
US presidents have granted Russia annual waivers to the law since 1994, so it hasn't hurt Russian interests since then but it remains a political sticking point in the countries' trade relations.
Lavrov said Moscow is growing impatient with U.S. promises to repeal the law.
American businessmen have long lobbied to have the law scrapped. (nvn)
