Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

Bill: 117-hr-7108
Sponsor: Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1]
Introduced: 2022-03-17 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Belarus
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Europe
Foreign property
Free trade and trade barriers
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Legislative rules and procedure
Military operations and strategy
Russia
Sanctions
Tariffs
Ukraine

Summary:
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: 

Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

 
This bill suspends normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. It also permanently authorizes the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions based on violations of human rights, and it revises the President's authority to impose these sanctions.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to proclaim increases in the rates of duty applicable to products of Russia or Belarus. This authority terminates on January 1, 2024.
 
The President may restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, subject to congressional disapproval.
 
The bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to take certain actions, including to consider steps to suspend Russia's participation in the World Trade Organization and seek to halt the accession process of Belarus.
 
 Additionally, the bill statutorily authorizes broader coverage of current visa- and property-blocking sanctions for human rights violations to cover persons involved in serious human rights abuses. (Current law imposes these sanctions on persons responsible for gross violations of human rights, a higher standard.)
 
The bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on any foreign person who (1) is responsible for serious human rights abuse, (2) is a current or former government official who is responsible for or complicit in corruption, (3) is or has been a leader or official of an entity that has engaged in any of these activities, (4) has provided support for any of these activities, or (5) is owned or controlled by a person subject to these sanctions.

action_date: 2022-03-17
text: 

Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

 
This bill suspends normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. It also permanently authorizes the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions based on violations of human rights, and it revises the President's authority to impose these sanctions.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to proclaim increases in the rates of duty applicable to products of Russia or Belarus. This authority terminates on January 1, 2024.
 
The President may restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, subject to congressional disapproval.
 
The bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to take certain actions, including to consider steps to suspend Russia's participation in the World Trade Organization and seek to halt the accession process of Belarus.
 
 Additionally, the bill statutorily authorizes broader coverage of current visa- and property-blocking sanctions for human rights violations to cover persons involved in serious human rights abuses. (Current law imposes these sanctions on persons responsible for gross violations of human rights, a higher standard.)
 
The bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on any foreign person who (1) is responsible for serious human rights abuse, (2) is a current or former government official who is responsible for or complicit in corruption, (3) is or has been a leader or official of an entity that has engaged in any of these activities, (4) has provided support for any of these activities, or (5) is owned or controlled by a person subject to these sanctions.

action_date: 2022-04-07
text: 

Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

 
This bill suspends normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. It also permanently authorizes the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions based on violations of human rights.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to proclaim increases in the rates of duty applicable to products of Russia or Belarus. This authority terminates on January 1, 2024.
 
The President may restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, subject to congressional disapproval.
 
The bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to (1) condemn the recent aggression in Ukraine, (2) encourage other World Trade Organization (WTO) members to suspend trade concessions to Russia and Belarus, (3) consider steps to suspend Russia's participation in the WTO, and (4) seek to halt the accession process of Belarus.

action_date: 2022-04-07
text: 

Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

 
This bill suspends normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. It also permanently authorizes the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions based on violations of human rights.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to proclaim increases in the rates of duty applicable to products of Russia or Belarus. This authority terminates on January 1, 2024.
 
The President may restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, subject to congressional disapproval.
 
The bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to (1) condemn the recent aggression in Ukraine, (2) encourage other World Trade Organization (WTO) members to suspend trade concessions to Russia and Belarus, (3) consider steps to suspend Russia's participation in the WTO, and (4) seek to halt the accession process of Belarus.

action_date: 2022-04-08
text: 

Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

 
This bill suspends normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. It also permanently authorizes the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions based on violations of human rights.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to proclaim increases in the rates of duty applicable to products of Russia or Belarus. This authority terminates on January 1, 2024.
 
The President may restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, subject to congressional disapproval.
 
The bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to (1) condemn the recent aggression in Ukraine, (2) encourage other World Trade Organization (WTO) members to suspend trade concessions to Russia and Belarus, (3) consider steps to suspend Russia's participation in the WTO, and (4) seek to halt the accession process of Belarus.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-04-08
text: Became Public Law No: 117-110.
action_date: 2022-04-08
text: Became Public Law No: 117-110.
action_date: 2022-04-08
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2022-04-08
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 3 (Roll no. 124). (text: CR H4415-4416)
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 3 (Roll no. 124).(text: CR H4415-4416)
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 7108.
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: Mr. Neal moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H4415-4417, H4419-4420)
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 100 - 0. Record Vote Number: 131. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: 04/06/2022 CR S2048-2049)
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 100 - 0. Record Vote Number: 131.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: 04/06/2022 CR S2048-2049)
action_date: 2022-04-07
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2060)
action_date: 2022-03-28
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 313.
action_date: 2022-03-24
text: Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 8 (Roll no. 78). (text: CR H3802-3804)
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 8 (Roll no. 78).(text: CR H3802-3804)
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7108.
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3802-3810)
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Mr. Neal moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 117-110