Congress Might Be About to Hand Trump Sweeping Tariff Powers
The Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, which the House will likely vote on this week, looks like a no-brainer for supporters of Ukraine who have been calling for President Trump to get tougher on Russia.
TL;DR
- The Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia Act aims to turn existing Russia sanctions into law, requiring Congressional approval to remove them.
- The bill allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major importers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, potentially affecting countries like China, India, France, Japan, Hungary, and Slovakia.
- The legislation includes a waiver that allows the president to lift any measure if claimed to be in the national interest, potentially nullifying the sanctions aspect.
- Critics suggest the bill could give Trump broad tariff authority, similar to powers previously limited by the Supreme Court, and could be used to reignite trade wars with allies.
- Supporters believe the bill offers a symbolic victory for Ukraine and a marginal increase in pressure on Trump, though its effectiveness is debated.
- Attempts to amend the bill to tighten waivers and exempt allies like the EU failed.