Russia should be given normal trade status by the US

The New York Times reports that Clinton Tells Russia That Sanctions Will Soon End; stating:

"Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pledged Saturday that the United States would soon lift cold-war-era trade sanctions on Russia, but she did not address human rights legislation in Congress that has so far stalled passage, infuriated the Kremlin and become an unexpected issue in the American presidential race."

China has had normal trade status with the US for many years in spite of human rights and other issues. It is absurd that Russia does not have the same status already.