U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. administration supports repealing the Jackson-Vanik amendment as it applies to Uzbekistan. Rubio made the remarks on October 19 while answering questions from journalists at Registan Square in Samarkand. During the press exchange, a journalist asked why the Jackson-Vanik amendment, introduced during the Cold War, had not yet been repealed.
"You would have to ask Congress about that. We are in favor of repealing it. There are many influential representatives in Congress who also support this initiative," Rubio said.
The Secretary of State noted that the issue had also been raised during his Senate confirmation hearings.
"I stated then, too, that I support repealing the amendment. The administration has also requested that it be done. Congress has not yet had the opportunity to address this matter, but we hope they will," he stated.
Rubio did not specify when Congress might take action to repeal the amendment.
Jackson-Vanik amendment and Uzbekistan
The Jackson-Vanik amendment was incorporated into the U.S. Trade Act of 1974. It was initially adopted in response to restrictions on freedom of emigration in the Soviet Union and certain other countries. The amendment limits the granting of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status with the United States to countries subject to its provisions.
Uzbekistan remains subject to the amendment and currently trades with the United States under temporary normal trade relations status. Removing the restrictions requires the U.S. Congress to pass the relevant legislation.
In November 2025, Jim Risch, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, announced the introduction of a bill aimed at repealing Jackson-Vanik restrictions for Central Asian countries. The announcement was made during an event in Washington marking the 10th anniversary of the C5+1 format.