Photo: kticradio.com

US President Barack Obama on Thursday officially authorized permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia after Congress voted to end the cold war trade embargo of Russia now that it has joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). President Obama said “Russia complies fully with free migration procedure amendment Jackson-Vanik 1974”. Jackson-Vanik, remnant of the Cold War, includes clauses that link US preferential tariffs with the right of Jews to travel freely in Russia. Russia’s joining the WTO allows President Obama to give PNTR to Russia.