Jackson-Vanik Testimony

Later Jackson-Vanik Related Materials ::
Understanding Jackson-Vanik
The Jackson-Vanik Amendment :: A Survey 2000
Advisory of the Committee on Ways and Means 1999
Statement of Senator John McCain on Extension
July 22nd, 1998 News Report
Disapproval of Waiver - Rohrabacher 2000
White House Disapproval of Extension 2002
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Jackson-Vanik Waiver

In 1974, Congress passed the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, now known as Title IV of the Trade Act. Jackson-Vanik forbid the USG to grant MFN, now known as NTR (Normal Trade Relations) and the privileges MFN/NTR offered with any country that had/has a dismal track record of human rights violations and orchestrates emigration barriers.

The only way for a nation such as Vietnam to enjoy the privileges associated with free trade with the US, was to be granted a Jackson-Vanik Waiver. In the years immediately following the lifting of the Trade Embargo and then Normalization of Relations with the SRV, certain MOCs continued to demand (rightfully so) that Vietnam be more forthcoming and productive with respect to the POW-MIA issue. One of the few legal remedies available was to author legislation that would deny the SRV the Waiver. These 1998 testimonies were presented during the Jackson-Vanik Waiver Hearings that were held before a variety of Congressional Committees prior to a Congressional vote on the matter. The measure to deny the Waiver was eventually defeated.

The first waiver of the Jackson-Vanik amendment was granted in 1998. Under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, this waiver needed to be renewed annually.

Jackson-Vanik Testimony

Links

Jackson-Vanik Waiver