House votes to suspend trade relations with Russia and Belarus

In an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 424 yeas to 8 nays, the House has voted to suspend permanent normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus in a further attempt to isolate Russia economically following the country's invasion of Ukraine three weeks ago.

The move follows President Biden's announcement last week that the at the U.S., European Union and G7 countries were moving to revoke Russia's "most favored nation" trade status, and that the U.S. would take steps to ban the import of Russian seafood, diamonds and vodka, he said. 

The bill joins another measure the House passed last week, to ban Russian oil and gas imports, which is in awaiting Senate consideration.