Nov 15, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement ahead of expected a House vote on legislation authorizing permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia, as the AF&PA said in the press release received by Lesprom Network. “AF&PA supports congressional passage of legislation that will extend PNTR to Russia and calls on the House and Senate to act quickly. “It is important that the U.S. Congress grant PNTR to Russia so that U.S. business can take full commercial advantage of Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), which took place nearly three months ago. If Congress fails to act, U.S. businesses will not gain the full benefits of concessions that Russia made as part of its WTO accession commitments, putting U.S. businesses at a disadvantage against all other WTO members competing in the Russian market,” Donna Harman said. The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturers, and forest landowners.