Brown, Cassidy Joint Statement on President Biden's Call With Allies to End Permanent Normal Trade Relations With Russia

Press Release

U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) released the below statement following the news that President Biden has announced support for removal of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia:

"This is a critical step consistent with our bipartisan bill and increases the economic consequences for Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Together with our allies, we're sending a clear signal to Russia: if you continue, you will be a pariah. If you invade your neighbor, starting an unprovoked war and killing innocent civilians, you will not get preferential treatment in the global market. The U.S. and our allies should use every tool at our disposal to apply economic pressure on Putin and his oligarch cronies, and we will continue to push for the expulsion of Russia from the World Trade Organization."

Brown and Cassidy introduced the bipartisan and bicameral No Most Favored Nation Trading with Russia Act to revoke Russia's most-favored-nation status, which currently shields Russia from being subject to higher U.S. tariffs. U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-35) and U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, Chair of the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, introduced the identical bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Most-favored-nation trade status, pursuant to the Trace Act of 1974, is granted to all members of the World Trade Organization and allows the country to receive the lowest tariffs, the fewest trade barriers, and the highest import quotas. Revoking Russia's status allows the United States to raise tariffs on Russian goods coming to our shores.

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