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House Votes to Increase Trade With Russia House Passes Russia Trade Bill With Eye on Rights Abuses
(about 7 hours later)
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives on Friday voted to take a step toward normalizing trade relations with Russia, sweeping away one of the last vestiges of cold war-era policy. WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives voted on Friday to take a step toward normalizing trade relations with Russia, sweeping away one of the last vestiges of cold-war-era policy.
The final tally was 365 to 43, an unusually large margin for a body that seldom agrees to do anything in a bipartisan fashion. The final tally was 365 to 43, an unusually large majority for a body that seldom agrees to do anything in a bipartisan fashion.
For now at least, Russia remains on a list of former Communist nations that were denied favored trade status in 1974 because they refused to allow their citizens to leave freely.
But that is likely to change once the Senate takes up the bill. Congressional officials say they expect it to pass there after some unresolved issues are ironed out.But that is likely to change once the Senate takes up the bill. Congressional officials say they expect it to pass there after some unresolved issues are ironed out.
A major factor in the trade bill’s easy approval — and a sore spot with the Russians — was that while the House extended one hand, it slapped President Vladimir V. Putin and his government with the other. A major factor in the legislation’s swift approval — and one that has opened up a rift with the Russian government — was that while the House extended one hand, it slapped President Vladimir V. Putin and his administration with the other.
Attached to the trade legislation was a provision that seeks to punish Russians who are guilty of violating human rights. The so-called Sergei Magnitsky amendment, named for a Russian lawyer who was arrested and died in prison after investigating government corruption, would allow the United States to deny visas and freeze assets of Russian officials who are deemed abusers. Attached to the trade legislation is a provision that seeks to punish Russians who are implicated in human rights abuses. Inspired by the case of Sergei L. Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who was tortured and died in prison after he investigated government corruption, the bill would allow the United States to deny visas to Russian officials who are deemed abusers and to freeze their assets.
Bill Browder, an investor who employed Mr. Magnitsky in Russia before his death and fought to get the bill passed, said the House’s action would send a strong signal to Mr. Putin and his administration. The Russian Foreign Ministry reacted swiftly and angrily on Friday to the House vote, calling it “a flagrantly unfriendly and provocative step,” and pledged to retaliate.
“There should be no illusions,” the ministry added. “Responsive measures will follow from our side, and the responsibility for them will lie fully on the U.S.”
The legislation threatens to further strain President Obama’s relationship with Mr. Putin, despite hopes for renewed cooperation and conciliation in Mr. Obama’s second term.
William F. Browder, a prominent investor who employed Mr. Magnitsky in Russia before his death in 2009 and who fought to get the bill passed, said the House’s action would send a strong signal to Mr. Putin and his administration.
“They may be able to act with impunity at home, but they won’t be able to act with impunity elsewhere,” Mr. Browder said.“They may be able to act with impunity at home, but they won’t be able to act with impunity elsewhere,” Mr. Browder said.
As the House debated the bill on Friday, Republicans and Democrats alike sounded at once diplomatic and stern. As the House debated the bill on Friday, Republicans and Democrats alike sounded at once diplomatic and stern, speaking of a growing trade relationship with one of the world’s largest economies as they condemned its abuse of its citizens.
Some experts estimate that the eased trade restrictions could ultimately double the amount of American exports flowing to Russia, the world’s 9th largest economy, to $19 billion. Some experts estimate that the eased trade restrictions could double the amount of American exports flowing to Russia to $19 billion in five years.
“This legislation is not a handout or a gift to Russia,” said Representative Wally Herger, a Republican from California. “A vote against this bill is a vote against U.S. employers. It’s a vote against small businesses. It’s a vote against farmers and a vote against ranchers.” “With this vote, we look to the future,” said Representative Gregory Meeks, Democrat of New York.
Officially, Russia remains on a list of former communist nations that were denied favored trade status in 1973 because they refused to allow their citizens to leave freely. Representative Wally Herger, Republican of California, said: “This legislation is not a handout or a gift to Russia. A vote against this bill is a vote against U.S. employers. It’s a vote against small businesses.”
Indeed, some real-world economic shifts were behind Friday’s vote. Russia joined the World Trade Organization in August, becoming one of the last global economic powerhouses to do so. Without normal trade status, American companies like Boeing and John Deere will not be able to take advantage of reduced trade barriers.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce called for swift action in the Senate. “This is a jobs bill that won’t cost the taxpayer a penny, and we urge the Senate to approve it as soon as possible,” the organization’s president, Thomas J. Donohue, said.
One hurdle that remains is reconciling the House and Senate bills. While the House legislation applies only to human rights violators from Russia, the Senate version would apply globally.
Earlier this week, Senator Benjamin Cardin, Democrat of Maryland, testified that the House bill should be expanded. “I need not tell you that human rights violations are not just in Russia,” he said.

David M. Herszenhorn contributed reporting from Moscow.