US senator proposes repealing Jackson–Vanik amendment for Central Asia

The United States seeks to help Central Asian countries preserve their independence and ability to determine their own future, Republican Senator James Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on 5 November at an event marking the 10th anniversary of the C5+1 (Central Asia + US) diplomatic platform.

“The world leaders gathered here today come from a difficult neighborhood. We understand. You are great nations caught between powerful countries. Today is an opportunity to deepen our cooperation and ensure that these countries can decide their own destinies,” the senator said.

According to Risch, the United States is ready to offer an alternative to the influence of Russia and China:

“As a volatile Russia and an increasingly aggressive China pursue their own national interests around the globe at the cost of their neighbors, the United States offers Central Asian nations the real opportunity to work with a willing partner while lifting up each other’s economies.”

The senator also announced that a bill had been submitted to Congress to eliminate barriers to economic cooperation with partners in the C5+1 format:

“To support this initiative, Senator Steve Daines, my colleagues, and I have introduced a bill to remove outdated obstacles to economic cooperation with our C5+1 partners. This involves repealing the restrictions under the Jackson–Vanik amendment.”

Risch noted that presenting this initiative on the 10th anniversary of the C5+1 platform carries symbolic meaning, as it aims to “open a new and dynamic era of cooperation between our countries.”

The C5+1 platform brings together the United States and the five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Established in 2015, it serves as a format for political, economic, and regional cooperation. The next C5+1 summit will take place on 6 November in Washington.

The Jackson–Vanik amendment, introduced to the US Trade Act of 1974, restricts trade with countries that hinder emigration or violate human rights. The restrictions include higher tariffs and fees on imported goods, as well as bans on government credits and loan guarantees.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the amendment automatically applied to all CIS countries. Later, the United States removed several states from its scope, including Russia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. However, most Central Asian nations – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – remain subject to the restrictions.