Even if they don't want to impose sanctions, they must do so! The U.S. Congress is forcing Trump to act against Russia through legislation, with China also implicated
According to The Wall Street Journal, on August 7, the U.S. Senate passed a bill proposed by the late Graham by a vote of 86 in favor and 11 opposed, as a tribute to his political legacy. The bill aims to introduce a new round of sanctions and tariffs to increase pressure on Russia, compelling it to halt its war against Ukraine.
The report notes that Russia relies on revenue from energy exports to sustain its military operations. The Graham Bill authorizes the President to impose up to 100% tariffs on the five main importers of Russian oil and gas, as well as five countries assisting Russia in evading oil sanctions.
The report highlights that the bill has sparked controversy over whether the White House should be granted expanded authority to set tariffs. Trump previously abused trade powers, pressuring even U.S. allies and damaging alliance relations and economies. There are concerns that after the bill passes, Trump might divert this tool toward targets beyond Russia. However, the bill text includes crucial constraints that limit presidential power.
The bill sets a cap on the number of countries subject to taxation; if a country’s imports of Russian natural gas account for less than 15% of Russia’s annual export volume and has already taken substantial measures to reduce purchases of Russian energy, it cannot be subjected to additional tariffs.
Senator Warnock of Georgia expressed concern that even if a country changes its policy, Trump might still maintain tariffs. Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Grille stated in a letter that the President lacks legal basis to impose tariffs beyond those specified in the bill.
The Graham Bill also includes other sanction provisions: targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet” used for illegal oil shipments; extending sanctions to senior military and political figures in Russia, oligarchs, energy projects, state-owned enterprises, financial institutions, and foreign entities supporting Russia’s defense industry infrastructure.
The report notes that Trump personally does not wish to intensify pressure on Russia, but this bill will force him to act.
Quoting an opinion: Ukraine believes that only when Putin faces real costs will peace become possible, which is why Ukraine continues conducting long-range strikes on military and energy facilities inside Russia. The Graham Bill is precisely the instrument the U.S. uses to escalate economic pressure on Russia.
The bill has garnered broad bipartisan support. After completing the Senate process, it will be sent to the House of Representatives for review. The Wall Street Journal comments: "We hope Putin won’t easily forget the name Lindsay Graham."
The U.S. House of Representatives plans to convene a special session on August 10 to examine the bill. The bill could impose up to 500% tariffs on goods imported from Russia; it specifically targets countries such as China and India, pushing them to reduce dependence on Russian oil and gas. Although Russia’s exports to the U.S. are relatively small, they have increased since Trump took office.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the Senate. He said the bill strengthens pressure on the aggressor, helping bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine; truly robust American pressure and sanctions against Russia remain the most critical support.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872919377820740/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author