US Lawmakers Advance 100% Russia Tariff Bill as Democrats Resist Expanding Trump Powers
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 16
US Lawmakers Advance 100% Russia Tariff Bill as Democrats Resist Expanding Trump Powers
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 16
Summary
A House rules committee cleared a Russia sanctions bill that would let President Donald Trump impose 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil, setting up a floor rule vote Tuesday and final vote Wednesday.
The measure targets Russia’s energy and defense sectors and its “shadow fleet,” and backers say it is the best near-term option to squeeze Moscow’s war economy before Ukraine enters winter with dwindling munitions.
Democratic support is crucial because some isolationist Republicans oppose the bill, but senior Democrats including Gregory Meeks, Don Beyer and Richard Neal say it gives Trump overly broad tariff powers that could hit allies and raise US prices.
Negotiators are trying to narrow the bill, with one amendment naming 10 countries for secondary sanctions — including China, India, Turkey and the UAE — while another proposal would cap eligibility at 11 countries.
The fight has become a high-stakes test of US support for Ukraine, with Zelenskyy urging Congress to turn the bill into law and foreign governments closely watching whether Washington expands economic pressure on Russia.