By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – Thursday’s overwhelming support of legislation by the U.S. House of Representatives to eliminate “most favored” trade statuses for Russia and Belarus in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine has opened the door for greater tariffs on imports.

The Democratic-controlled House voted 424-8 in favor of removing Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status, the latest congressional effort to put economic pressure on Moscow.

Biden administration pledges to end Russia’s normal trade relations at World Trade Organization. Congress must approve this move.

Senate approval is required for the measure to be made law. After approval by the House, Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the measure would quickly move through the Senate.

After the emotional address by Volodomyr Zelenskiy to Congress via videolink, the House vote occurred. Many legislators wore Ukraine flag pins while they voted.

Trade status revocation allows the Biden administration higher tariffs for Russian and Belarusian imports that the existing levels Washington pledges to all members of the World Trade Organization.

This measure would also expand the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to ease sanctions against Russian officials who are suspected of human rights violations.

Eight of the eight “no votes” came from Republicans. Some said that Magnitsky gave too many power to President Obama.

Nancy Pelosi (Democratic House Speaker) stated, inurging support of the bill, “If we fail to speak out against human rights for commercial interests we lose all moral authority for speaking out for them.”

The only Ukrainian-born Republican representative in Congress Victoria Spartz said that it was crucial to include close Russian allies Belarus. She stated that it was impossible to create an opening for Putin to channel money through Belarus.