US Senate Moves to Boost Trade with Russia

 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Finance Committee Wednesday approved a bill that would give Russian goods the same low-tariffs¹ as exports from other nations, ending restrictions² that were put in place during the Cold War.

Supporters say the measure could help double the $9 billion annual trade between the two former enemies.

The change came over the objections of some senators who said Washington should not grant permanent normal trade relations to Moscow until it stops sending weapons to Syria, where a conflict has killed thousands of people.

Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, said Congress should not "squander³" a chance to send a strong message to Moscow.

But Senator John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat⁴, disagreed, saying slowing trade with Russia would not change that nation's actions but would hurt U.S. exporters.

For the bill to become law, it must still pass the full Senate, and be approved by the House of Representatives and President Barack Obama.

Earlier, Russia's parliament gave final legislative⁵ approval to the agreement that obligates Russia to cap some tariffs and take other actions in return for being allowed to join the World Trade Organization. 

The measure must still be signed by President Vladimir Putin.

Russia was the last of the world's major economies outside the WTO before the 153-member group officially accepted the country in December.

WTO supporters say it helps the economies of individual nations by boosting trade.

1 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 squander   

v.浪费，挥霍

参考例句：

• Don't squander your time in reading those dime novels.不要把你的时间浪费在读那些胡编乱造的廉价小说上。
• Every chance is precious，so don't squander any chance away!每次机会都很宝贵，所以不要将任何一个白白放走。

4 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

5 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。