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A White House official has confirmed that President Donald Trump plans to sign a bill imposing new economic pressure on Russia. The legislation, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives by 262 votes to 159, now goes to the president for his signature.
What the bill does
The legislation gives Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that continue buying Russian oil and gas. It also extends U.S. sanctions on Iran through 2031.
Among Russia’s five largest fossil-fuel buyers, China accounts for 51% of Moscow’s revenue from those exports, according to Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
The measure also targets Russia’s energy and defense sectors and its so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to evade existing sanctions.
Why the bill matters now
Representative Michael McCaul, one of the bill’s leading supporters, said passing the legislation ahead of the winter months would increase pressure on Russia and its partners.
He argued that the tariffs could also put pressure on China and other major buyers of Russian energy to encourage Moscow to engage in negotiations.
Democratic concerns
Not all lawmakers support the expanded tariff powers.
Representative Gregory Meeks, the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, questioned whether the bill would achieve its stated goals. He argued that it gives the president broad new authority over tariffs while also allowing him to waive the sanctions.
The legislation nevertheless passed with bipartisan backing. According to Reuters, 58 Democrats joined all but seven Republicans in voting for it.
The measure was originally introduced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham and passed the Senate last month by 86–11.
Trump is now expected to sign the bill into law.
