Daines to USTR Greer: Repeal Jackson-Vanik Trade Restrictions, Protect Montana Mining Jobs

• July 22, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in a Senate Finance Committee hearing. They discussed repealing the Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions and the importance of countering Russian dumping of palladium and supporting Montana miners.

Watch the full exchange HERE.

Daines and Greer discussed Jackson-Vanik:

Daines: Ambassador Greer, welcome to the committee. Good to have you here. Last November, there was a historic dinner at the White House. We had all five Central Asian presidents and their corresponding foreign ministers. On one side of the table, I was there with the President, the Vice President, Secretary Bessent, Secretary Rubio, as well as Ambassador Sergio Gor. For a historic moment, they're in the White House as these great Central Asian countries now are developing a much closer relationship with the United States. And as you know, geopolitically, it's such an important part of the world in a very tough neighborhood surrounded by Russia, China, Afghanistan, Iran. And as we have discussed, and by the way, one of the top issues they brought up that night at that dinner was a repeal of the antiquated Jackson-Vanik provision. It is an embarrassment the United States maintains these trade restrictions associated with Jackson-Vanik on Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and now Azerbaijan. As of late last year, Azerbaijan is now officially part of what we call the C-6. What used to be the C-5 is now Azerbaijan as we're pulling that group together as they work with the United States. This Jackson-Vanik restriction is an ancient relic of Soviet Union days. It long ago ceased serving any useful purpose. It's become a barrier to deepening America's relationship with this most strategic region. And again, it was the issue they brought up with President Trump when we had dinner in November. Ambassador Greer, I know you've been engaged in that part of the world. Very important. Would you support the efforts to repeal these antiquated trade restrictions?

Greer: My sense is that we'll be supportive… I think if this process goes along with these countries agreeing to open their markets to us, then that's a complementary effort that we could support.

Daines: Yeah, and this is tied to some Jewish immigration issues from the Soviet Union days. The embarrassing part of this is that there's three countries that would remain after we get this bill through. And by the way, Chris Murphy is my Democrat co-sponsor on this. It's bipartisan. But the remaining countries would be Cuba, Belarus, and North Korea. And this is the embarrassing part of the Jackson-Vanik provisions. We have these countries that are working closely with us now in Central Asian and South Caucasus. And yet they're in the same list as North Korea, Cuba, and Belarus. So, we hope we can get this done before the end of the year, and I appreciate your support on that. I know Secretary Rubio supports this in the administration as well.

Daines and Greer on stopping the flood of Russian palladium into American markets:

Daines: Last, I wanted to talk briefly on palladium. There's three chief producers of palladium in the world. It's Russia, South Africa, and Montana. The Russians are dumping palladium below prices here in the United States. It caused 700 workers in Montana to lose their jobs at that mine. They're under the assault of Russian market manipulation to knock them out of business. This brazen assault on U.S. national security and hardworking Montana miners can't be allowed to stand. Ambassador Greer, would you support taking corrective action to end Russia's market manipulation and ensuring we get Montana miners back on the job to supply this critical mineral, made in Montana mineral, no less, and support this industry?

Greer: I am supportive. Anywhere where there's a distorted market, we want to get those fixed.

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