[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 133 (Thursday, October 10, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S10361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEVIN:
  S. 3089. A bill to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory 
treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of 
Ukraine, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, today I introduce a bill to grant normal 
trade treatment to the products of Ukraine. My brother, Congressman 
Sander Levin, has introduced an identical bill, H.R. 4723, in the 
House. It is our hope that enactment of this legislation will help to 
build stronger economic ties between the United States and Ukraine.
  The cold war era Jackson-Vanik immigration restrictions that deny 
most favored nation trade status to imports from former Soviet-Block 
countries are outdated and when applied to Ukraine, inappropriate. 
Those restrictions were established as a tool to pressure Communist 
nations to allow their people to freely emigrate in exchange for 
favorable trade treatment by the United States.
  Ukraine does allow it citizens the right and opportunity to emigrate. 
It has met the Jackson-Vanik test. In fact, Ukraine has been found to 
be in full compliance with the freedom of emigration requirements under 
the Jackson-Vanik law. Ukraine has been certified as meeting the 
Jackson-Vanik requirements on an annual basis since 1992 when a 
bilateral trade agreement went into effect. It is time the United 
States recognize this reality by eliminating the Jackson-Vanik 
restrictions and granting Ukraine normal trading status on a permanent 
basis. Our bill does this as well as addressing traditional Jackson-
Vanik issues such as emigration, religious freedom, restoration of 
property, and human rights. It also deals with the important trade 
issues that must be considered when granting a country permanent normal 
trade relations, PNTR, such as making progress toward World Trade 
Organization, WTO, accession and tariff and excise tax reductions.
  Since reestablishing independence in 1991, Ukraine has taken 
important steps toward the creation of democratic institutions and a 
free-market economy. As a member state of the Organization for Security 
and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, Ukraine is committed to developing a 
system of governance in accordance with the principles regarding human 
rights and humanitarian affairs that are set forth in the Final Act of 
the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Helsinki 
Final Act. I believe that more needs to be done to reform Ukraine's 
economy and legal structures, but I believe that the hope for PNTR and 
thus PNTR itself, can encourage these reforms.
  Drawing Ukraine into normal trade relations should lead Ukraine to 
achieve greater market reform and continue its commitment to 
safeguarding religious liberty and enforcing laws to combat 
discrimination as well as expand on the restitution of religious and 
communal properties. Also, PNTR status will hopefully do more than 
increase bilateral trade between the United States and Ukraine and 
encourage increased international investment in Ukraine. Hopefully it 
will also stimulate the reform we all want and Ukraine deserves on 
their way to achieving a mature nation statehood.
  Ukraine is important to U.S. strategic interests and objectives in 
Central and Eastern Europe and has participated with the United States 
in its peacekeeping operations in Europe and has provided important 
cooperation in the global struggle against international terrorism. 
It's time we recognize Ukraine's accomplishments and status as an 
emerging democracy and market economy and graduate it from the Jackson-
Vanik restrictions.
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