P.M. BRIEFING : Soviet Favored-Nation Status Urged

WASHINGTON — The National Assn. of Manufacturers called on the Bush Administration today to waive a legal obstacle blocking the Soviet Union from gaining most-favored-nation status in a bid to promote greater trade between the two nations.

“The Soviet Union is likely to be a much more important market tomorrow than today and American manufacturers want to be an important player in that market,” Jerry Jasinowski, executive vice president of NAM, told business and government officials at a trade forum sponsored by the association.

A major stumbling block to the Soviet Union acquiring most-favored status is an amendment to the 1974 Trade Act. Among the conditions of the Jackson-Vanik amendment is that nations allow the free emigration of citizens, a provision targeted at the emigration policies concerning Soviet Jews, association members said.