U.S. House passes bill suspending normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus

The bill next must be considered and passed by the Senate and then signed by the president before it can become law.

Suspending normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7108, the Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act.

Read text of the bill

Background

According to a Ways and Means release, the legislation includes additional provisions that would expand U.S. trade tools to stop Russia’s war on Ukraine and to hold Belarus accountable for its involvement.

The legislation, if enacted, would:

  • Provide the president with time-limited authority to increase tariffs on products of Russia and Belarus, until January 1, 2024
  • Require the U.S. Trade Representative to use “the voice and influence of the United States” to seek suspension of Russia’s participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to halt Belarus’ WTO accession and accession-related work
  • Provide the president with the authority to restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus if these countries have ceased their acts of aggression against Ukraine and other certain conditions are met, but granting Congress the authority to overrule such a decision through a congressional disapproval process

What’s next?

With House passage, the bill next must be considered and passed by the Senate and then signed by the president before it can become law. 
 

For more information, contact a professional with KPMG’s Trade & Customs services:

Doug Zuvich
Partner and Global Practice Leader
T: 312-665-1022
E: dzuvich@kpmg.com

John L. McLoughlin
Principal and East Coast Leader
T: 267-256-2614
E: jlmcloughlin@kpmg.com

Andy Siciliano
Partner and National Practice Leader
T: 631-425-6057
E: asiciliano@kpmg.com

Steve Brotherton
Principal and Global Export and Sanctions Leader
T: 415-963-7861
E: sbrotherton@kpmg.com

Luis (Lou) Abad
Principal, Washington National Tax
T: 212-954-3094
E: labad@kpmg.com

Irina Vaysfeld
Principal
T: 212-872-2973
E: ivaysfeld@kpmg.com

Amie Ahanchian
Principal
T: 202-533-3247
E: aahanchian@kpmg.com

Christopher Young
Principal
T: 312-665-3229
E: christopheryoung@kpmg.com

Gisele Belotto
Principal
T: 305-913-2779
E: gbelotto@kpmg.com

George Zaharatos
Principal
T: 404-222-3292
E: gzaharatos@kpmg.com

Andy Doornaert
Managing Director
T: 313-230-3080
E: adoornaert@kpmg.com

Jessica Libby
Principal
T: 612-305-5533
E: jlibby@kpmg.com

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