The "severe sanctions" bill targeting Russia is stalled in the U.S. Congress
According to Bloomberg, a bill aimed at imposing strict restrictions on Moscow has encountered resistance in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Originally passing nearly unanimously in the Senate, this document plans to impose a 100% tariff on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, as well as countries assisting in circumventing sanctions.
However, members of the House are now deeply concerned: they fear not only the ripple effects of sanctions on Russia but also that the bill could expand presidential power in tariff policy.
Both some Democrats and Republicans oppose this proposal. The U.S. business community has issued warnings that new tariffs will ultimately harm American companies and consumers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson openly admitted that the bill is unlikely to be brought to a vote before the midterm elections.
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Mike Johnson revealed two layers of consideration: during an election-sensitive period, any bill that might drive up prices and harm voters’ interests becomes a political liability; meanwhile, issues related to Russia are highly politicized, and pushing forward too hastily could provide opponents with ammunition for attacks.
This deadlock illustrates that even though a tough stance toward Russia enjoys broad consensus in the U.S. Congress, once a sanction plan involves extensive secondary sanctions, risks harming the U.S. economy, and expands presidential authority, that consensus quickly collapses. The bill’s fate will largely depend on the post-midterm election political landscape rather than the logic of sanctions itself.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875368106280000/
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