A US congressman has introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to impose a full trade ban on Russia, citing recent drone strikes on Poland as the reason.
The proposal, led by Republican Joe Wilson of South Carolina, aims to reinstate the Jackson–Vanik amendment, a Cold War-era law that restricted trade with countries that violated human rights or blocked emigration. Wilson shared the announcement on social media on September 10.
Wilson criticized former US leaders for ending the measure, arguing that its repeal encouraged Russian aggression. He said Moscow took advantage of what he called a weak US stance to occupy Crimea in 2014.
“President Obama and John Kerry wrongly repealed this law during the misguided ‘reset’ with Russia, which encouraged war criminal Vladimir Putin to occupy Crimea,” Wilson wrote. “President Trump will fix this!”
The Jackson–Vanik amendment was first passed in 1974. It allowed the US to restrict trade with countries that violated basic freedoms. Beginning in 1989, US administrations waived the rules for the Soviet Union and later Russia. In 2012, President Obama officially lifted the amendment, a move Wilson supported at the time. He called it a step to help the US economy recover.
Wilson has now reversed his position as tensions rise between Russia and NATO. His proposal came days after one of Russia’s heaviest air attacks on Ukraine in months. On the night of September 10, at least 19 Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace. Poland scrambled fighter jets and air defense units, and NATO allies also sent warplanes to the skies.
Polish officials said they found debris from seven downed drones and parts of a missile. Five drones crashed in the Lublin region, including one that hit a home in the village of Wyrzyki, near the borders with Belarus and Ukraine. No injuries were reported.
The drone attacks also coincided with the arrival of Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, who was traveling to Poland at the time. The incident triggered the first NATO combat engagement since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Wilson’s proposed legislation would block all trade between the US and Russia, reviving strict measures against Moscow. Supporters say it would send a strong signal that human rights violations and attacks on NATO members have serious consequences. Critics warn it could hurt US businesses and make diplomacy more difficult during a time of global tension.
The timing of Wilson’s proposal links directly to the war in Eastern Europe. Russia has increased its attacks on Ukraine, while NATO is boosting its defenses along its eastern borders. The drone strikes in Poland show how the conflict could spill into NATO territory and spark wider military action.
Experts say bringing back the Jackson–Vanik amendment would be a major shift in US foreign policy. Unlike earlier waivers and repeals, this plan would create a total trade ban unless Russia shows clear reforms on human rights and international law.
As the bill moves through Congress, lawmakers and the White House must weigh national security, human rights, and economic interests. Wilson’s plan highlights growing concern in Washington about Russia’s actions and the need for stronger deterrence.
The debate over a US Russia trade ban will likely grow in the coming weeks as drone and missile threats continue in the region. Poland stays on alert, while US leaders discuss whether Cold War-era laws like the Jackson–Vanik amendment can be used again in today’s global landscape.
