Russia sanctions bill in US faces 3 key hurdles

The Russia sanctions bill passed by the US Senate imposes up to 100% tariffs on India, China, and three other countries if they purchase Russian energy. Before President Donald Trump can sign the bill, it must overcome three major hurdles. Firstly, the US House of Representatives is currently in recess until August 31. Secondly, a potential September vote could be disrupted by a planned summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Thirdly, a coalition of House Democrats and at least one Republican are attempting to remove the tariff provisions from the bill altogether. The timing of the House's return from recess leaves a narrow window for voting, which could occur as early as September or as late as late November. The White House may prefer to avoid having the bill voted on ahead of the anticipated Trump-Xi summit, which is expected on September 24.

The bill has received strong opposition from senior House Democrats, arguing that it gives the president more tariff authority than warranted. The Paul-Wyden amendment, which sought to remove the tariff provisions, failed but garnered 32 votes, including Rep. Rand Paul, demonstrating the need for further refinement of the bill. The vote comes as India and the US work to finalize an interim trade agreement, and the bill could introduce a new tariff layer on top of an existing 25% penalty tied to India's purchases of Russian oil.