Congress Might Be About to Hand Trump Sweeping Tariff Powers
The Russia-sanctions bill isn’t what it seems.
The Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, set to be considered by the House this week, offers President Trump sweeping tariff powers that grant him nearly unchecked authority to impose levies on countries associated with Russia's energy sector. Currently, most sanctions on Russia are enforced by executive order, allowing Trump to alter them as he sees fit.
This bill transforms those sanctions into law, necessitating congressional approval if Trump wishes to lift them. Additionally, the bill names specific Russian individuals and businesses, further limiting Trump's discretion. While it does not introduce significant new sanctions, it does allow Trump to impose tariffs up to 100 percent on Russia's top five importers of oil and gas, including key nations like China, India, and France.
Critics argue the bill could provide Trump with excessive flexibility and potentially lead to litigation if the administration interprets it more broadly than intended. However, supporters contend that the bill serves as a symbol of congressional backing for Ukraine and could increase pressure on Trump to act more aggressively against Russia.
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