– The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and USA*Engage today expressed disappointment over the Senate’s approval of S. 2799, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, & Divestment Act. The associations also urged lawmakers to fix the most counterproductive features of the legislation in conference.
“We are extremely disappointed that the Senate has approved additional unilateral sanctions on Iran for a number of reasons. The bill is at cross purposes with the Administration’s multilateral strategy as regards Iran; as many analysts have pointed out, if implemented, the additional sanctions would reinforce the power of those in Iran opposed to negotiations and potentially alienate our allies,” said NFTC President and USA*Engage Co-Chair Bill Reinsch.
“The bill is also counterproductive to the goal of generating jobs, economic growth and increasing trade, given the broad scope of the proposed sanctions and the unintended consequences of the proposed penalties for the global trade community,” said USA*Engage Director Richard Sawaya. “We urge Congress to overhaul these most troubling provisions of the bill when it goes to conference, and we call on the Administration to exert its leadership and consult with Congress.”
Earlier this week, the NFTC and USA*Engage joined seven other leading business associations in sending a letter to National Security Advisor James Jones and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers, urging them to weigh in with Congress to eliminate the Senate bill and its companion in the House, H.R. 2194.
