Jackson and Vanik Once Again: Repeal of Amendment Promised in September

Richard G. Lugar, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said last Monday that he has drawn up a bill to repeal the Jackson-Vanik Amendment for Ukraine and also expressed the hope that Congress would hold a debate on this document as early as September and hand down a positive decision. Sen. Lugar announced that he has drafted “a very effective bill” on this matter. President Viktor Yushchenko and the senator discussed the prospects of lifting the Jackson-Vanik Amendment for Ukraine, membership in the World Trade Organization, granting Ukraine market-economy status, and the prospects of Euro-Atlantic integration. The Ukrainian president emphasized that, according to experts, “Ukraine loses about 8 billion dollars a year” because it is not a WTO member and does not enjoy market-economy status. The head of state expressed the hope that the American administration will support the signing of a WTO-related protocol. Sen. Lugar in turn emphasized that the US supports Ukraine in its aspirations for European and Euro-Atlantic integration. He also expressed the hope that the problem of repealing the Jackson-Vanik Amendment for Ukraine would be solved in a positive manner.

Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn reminded Sen. Lugar and Democratic Senator Barack Obama that lifting the Jackson-Vanik Amendment is one of the prerequisites for Ukraine’s membership in the World Trade Organization.

Sen. Lugar also said he was going to meet Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko and representatives of this country’s political forces, as well as some previous heads of government. The senator said he hopes these meetings will help him better understand the new government’s plans to carry out reforms. Sen. Lugar also noted that at these meetings he would like to hear what steps the US administration can take to promote reforms in Ukraine and help our state achieve better standards in social and economic policies.