A US senator called the Jackson-Vanik amendment for Uzbekistan an outdated restriction.
Senator Steve Daines, co-chair of the U.S. Senate Central Asia Caucus, emphasized that repealing the trade restrictions imposed by the Jackson-Vanik Amendment should be a key priority for the United States in Central Asia.
According to the senator, these outdated restrictions hinder the development of free trade between the United States and countries in the region. He particularly noted the potential of Uzbekistan, which possesses significant reserves of critical minerals such as copper and uranium, making it a valuable partner for the United States in strengthening global supply chains.
"One of the United States' top priorities must be eliminating the outdated trade restrictions contained in the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, which hinder free trade between the United States and Central Asia in the future," Daines stated.
The senator also expressed optimism about the development of transportation routes under the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project. He believes this project will improve regional connectivity and create reliable trade routes to Uzbekistan.
Among other positive changes, Daines cited the creation of the US-Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council, as well as the growth of mutual trade, which has already exceeded $1 billion between Uzbekistan and the US.
Currently, the US Congress is considering a bipartisan bill to repeal the Jackson-Vanik Amendment for Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan. The bill was sponsored by Senators Steve Daines, Jim Risch, Jeanne Shaheen, and Chris Murphy. A similar bill has also been introduced in the House of Representatives.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed support for repealing the Jackson-Vanik Amendment for Central Asian countries.