A Bill to Repeal the Jackson-Vanik Amendment Introduced in the U.S. Congress

Washington, February 6, 2025 – Democratic Congressman Jimmy Panetta (California) has introduced the bipartisan bill H.R. 1024, the U.S.-Kazakhstan Trade Modernization Act, to repeal the Jackson-Vanik Amendment and establish Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Kazakhstan. The bill has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, the primary congressional body responsible for trade issues.

The initiative has received immediate support from eight members of the House: Dina Titus (D-Nevada), Ami Bera (D-California), Tom Suozzi (D-New York), Robert Aderholt (R-Alabama), Darin LaHood (R-Illinois), Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), Claudia Tenney (R-New York), and Carol Miller (R-West Virginia).

In a statement published on his official website, Rep. Panetta emphasized that granting Kazakhstan PNTR status will strengthen economic cooperation, expand investment opportunities, and support a stable and independent Kazakhstan amid growing global competition. "It’s long past time we brought this critical trade partnership into the 21st century.," Panetta stated.

Rep. LaHood, a key member of the Ways and Means Committee, highlighted that the bill would put an end to outdated Cold War-era trade restrictions and foster Kazakhstan’s economic growth and prosperity, as well as that of other Central Asian nations.

Members of the House of Representatives also underscored that Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central Asia, accounting for two-thirds of the region’s GDP. The country plays a pivotal role in global energy supply chains, producing 43% of the world’s uranium and supplying strategically important rare earth elements.

Key indicators of Kazakhstan’s readiness to advance its trade relations with the U.S. include WTO membership, stable economic growth, a significant volume of bilateral trade, strategic geographic positioning, and the importance of projects like the Middle Corridor for diversifying trade and logistics routes.

The U.S. Congress’s position aligns with the statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who, during a Senate hearing on January 15, reaffirmed that Kazakhstan is recognized by the U.S. as a market economy and has met all the requirements of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment as a WTO member. He also officially confirmed that the State Department will work closely with Congress to resolve this critical issue.