US Congress approves Russia sanctions with customs powers for Trump

For the first time since Donald Trump took office, Congress has taken a clear stance in favor of Ukraine with a far-reaching Russia sanctions bill. This is not least the posthumous achievement of the Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who, until his sudden death in July, was not above making any contortions in order to win over the skeptical commander-in-chief of NATO supremacy for the cause of freedom.

The fact that Trump has promised to sign the bill, which has now been approved by the House of Representatives, into law has a lot to do with the fact that it bears Lindsey Graham's name - and that the legislature was very accommodating to a president who considers himself to be the only solution to every problem. Because it is not the punitive measures decided by Congress against Putin and some oligarchs that can be expected to significantly improve Kiev's situation. The American secondary sanctions against those states that continue to buy a lot of oil and gas from Russia could make a noticeable difference in the balance of power between Moscow and Kiev. This is mainly about China and India.

But such sanctions do not automatically come into effect when the president signs the law. Rather, he is given a new lever that he can use at his own discretion. And so that there is any chance that he will do so, Congress has opted for Trump's favorite instrument: tariffs. Trump can punish Russia's largest energy buyers and supporters with 100 percent tariffs.

It's a double-edged sword: As soon as the Supreme Court in Washington found that Trump illegally bypassed Congress in his tariff offensive last year, he receives additional authority from the deceived people's representatives, which he will undoubtedly interpret broadly. It cannot be assumed that he is thinking solely or even primarily about the fate of the invaded Ukraine. It would also be irresponsible, because the consequences of a massive punitive tariff against trading partners such as China or India cannot be limited to Russia. From Trump's point of view, playing poker with these and other countries simply gave him additional leverage.

Many die-hard Ukraine supporters from the Democratic (!) Party therefore voted against the bill. Ukraine and its supporters in Europe can still be happy that Washington is finally showing its colors in the war and putting pressure on Russia's sponsors. Of course, Trump threatened the EU with new tariffs on the day of the vote because it was celebrating rapprochement with its trade war opponent Canada. This leaves Kiev's allies with a bad aftertaste.