President Joe Biden on April 8 signed into law bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus.
“Hostile regimes that threaten U.S. national security or our allies must be put on notice that there will always be a heavy price to pay,” said Rep. Newhouse. “In light of the threat posed by Vladimir Putin and his regime, it is imperative that America stands up for the free world.”
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) on March 17 sponsored the Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act, H.R. 7108, with 26 original cosponsors, including Rep. Newhouse. The U.S. House of Representatives on the same day voted 424-8 to pass the bill, which advanced to the U.S. Senate, where lawmakers amended it, and on April 7 voted 100-0 to pass the bill.
The House on April 7 agreed to the amendment and then also passed the bill, 420-3. H.R. 7108 was presented to the president for his signature on April 7, as well, and Biden signed it into law on April 8.
“This legislation will hit Russia where it hurts, and I am pleased to see this pass both chambers and head to the president’s desk,” Rep. Newhouse said.
H.R. 7108 suspends “Permanent Normal Trade Relations” for Russia and normal trade relations for Belarus to cut off export revenue that can indirectly fund Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Newhouse’s office.
The bill also increases tariffs on other imports from Russia and calls on America’s trading partners to take similar steps to end normal trade relations with Russia, the summary says, and creates off-ramps, with congressional oversight, to restore the trade statuses of the countries only if the aggression ends, their behavior changes, and Ukraine’s freedom and sovereignty are secure.