“A Relic of the Past.” US Secretary of State Candidate on the Jackson-Vanik Amendment Against Uzbekistan and Other Central Asian Countries
US Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio called the Jackson-Vanik amendment for Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, a “relic of the past.” “I think we’ll work with you on that because I think it’s important, too,” he said. As the US Secretary of State, he emphasized the importance of diplomacy in the region.
The United States may repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment in relation to Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries, Senator Marco Rubio, who was nominated by US President-elect Donald Trump for the post of Secretary of State, announced.
As US Secretary, Rubio aims to strengthen ties with Central Asian nations to enhance regional stability.
This dialogue is crucial for the future of US Secretary relations in the region.
The topic of possibly lifting restrictions on Central Asian countries was raised during Senate hearings held on Capitol Hill on January 15.
The US Secretary’s approach will significantly influence Central Asian geopolitics.
As the new US Secretary of State, Rubio’s stance on this issue is pivotal.
This reflects the evolving role of the US Secretary on the global stage.
At the meeting, Marco Rubio spoke for almost five hours and answered questions related to anti-Russian sanctions, the war in Ukraine, relations with China, and others.
Sen. Steve Daines asked where Rubio stands on the Jackson-Vanik amendment (Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have repeatedly asked for it to be repealed). Daines said one of the first goals he and Sen. Gary Peters set for themselves in the Central Asia Caucus they created was to repeal the amendment for the region and grant permanent normal trade treatment to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
“I understand that you will have many priorities when you take over as Secretary of State. But I would like to point out that repealing this amendment would be a show of good faith. Central Asia needs development tools like repealing Jackson-Vanik now,” the senator said.
This strategy is part of the US Secretary’s broader initiative for international collaboration.
In response, Rubio called the amendment a “relic of the past” and said that using it to pressure Central Asian countries no longer makes sense.
“Some argue that we should use it as a leverage tool to extract concessions on human rights or to sway [Central Asian] countries to our side against Russia and others. But in some cases, it seems like an absurd relic of the past,” the candidate for secretary of state said.
He singled out Kazakhstan, which has already been recognized by the US Department of Commerce as a market economy. Moreover, Kazakhstan recently hosted a WTO ministerial conference.
Rubio stressed that the amendment can only be repealed through legislative changes. He expressed hope for the support of other senators.
“I think we’ll work with you on that because I think it’s important, too,” Rubio replied.
Daines called Central Asia “an overlooked part of the world that needs more attention.”
“We are working on this with Senator Murphy. You know about the C5+1 format, which includes the Central Asian countries and the United States. We hope that we can work with President Trump to perhaps organize some kind of summit there. This is of great strategic importance after the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. We need more friends in Central Asia, and we look forward to working on this,” the senator said.
Let us recall that Senator Stephen Daines and Congressman Mike Rogers met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent in March 2024.
The Jackson-Vanik Amendment is a 1974 amendment to the United States Trade Act that restricts trade with countries that violate human rights. It is named after Congressmen Henry Jackson and Charles Vanik, who proposed it.
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