Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Robert Wexler and Co-Chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, member of the House of Representatives Bill Shuster introduced legislation that would repeal Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions on Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani embassy in Washington told APA's US bureau about it. The congressmen believe that Azerbaijan, which is a strategic security and energy partner of the United States, has long met its obligations to comply with freedom of emigration requirements and that Congress should remove Jackson-Vanik requirements for Azerbaijan.

According to the 1974 Trade Act of the United States, the Jackson-Vanik amendment denied most favored nation to certain countries with non-market economies that restricted emigration rights.

"I strongly support repealing Jackson-Vanik for Azerbaijan, one of America's most important strategic allies in the Caucasus region, which has met all obligations to comply with freedom of emigration requirements and continues to ensure that these commitments are fulfilled," Congressman Wexler said. "Passage of this legislation would send a strong signal to Azerbaijan about American intention to enhance relations and cooperation in a number of key areas, including energy security, counter-terrorism cooperation and trade," APA cited Wexler as saying.