Russia sanctions stall in US Congress over fears of higher gas prices
Sanctions against Russia are stalled in the US Congress (photo: Getty Images)
The Russia sanctions bill passed by the US Senate is facing growing opposition in the House of Representatives and is likely to remain stalled at least until the November elections. The reason is concern that the bill would expand US President Donald Trump's tariff powers and drive up oil prices, according to Bloomberg.
The bill would allow Trump to impose 100% tariffs on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas and the five countries that most help Russia circumvent sanctions. The largest buyers are China, India, and Türkiye.
Retailers and the influential US Chamber of Commerce have opposed the bill, fearing that it would give Trump a new basis for imposing sweeping tariffs.
The bill was authored by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. It passed the Senate by an overwhelming 86–11 vote, largely in memory of Graham, who died suddenly in July. The mood in the House of Representatives has been considerably cooler.
Speaker Mike Johnson said a vote was unlikely to take place before the November 3 elections. Leading Democrats on the relevant committees, as well as some Republicans, oppose the bill.
Lawmakers are also assessing the risk of higher gas prices. If the law forces India and other buyers to seek oil from other countries, prices could rise even further, having already increased following the war with Iran.
Democrats have a different concern: that Trump could use the law as a new legal basis for tariffs.
"I'm not prepared to give any president, but in particular this president, more unfettered authority over tariffs," Democratic Representative Brad Schneider said.
On August 31, Senator Richard Blumenthal called on the House of Representatives to immediately pass sanctions against Russia, describing the current moment as extremely urgent. According to him, Putin's economy is already on the verge of a serious crisis.
On the evening of August 28, Russian forces struck warehouses with drones in the Bucha district of the Kyiv region. The fire was accompanied by explosions and the detonation of ammunition. The Security Service of Ukraine opened a criminal case over the strike and detonation, with the investigation being conducted under an article on official negligence.
