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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

US sanctions bill on Russia could backfire on EU allies

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • A US Senate bill aimed at sanctioning Russia could impose high tariffs on EU countries that continue to trade Russian energy.
  • The bill, initially intended to increase economic pressure on Moscow, grants broad authority to the White House to impose up to 100% tariffs.
  • Experts warn the bill's broad wording could be used politically to target nations beyond China and India, potentially creating trade tensions with allies.

An initiative in the U.S. Senate to tighten economic pressure on Russia risks escalating trade disputes with America's own allies. A proposed sanctions bill, currently under debate, could serve as a new tool for President Donald Trump to impose steep tariffs on nations perceived to maintain ties with Russian energy, including European Union member states.

The sanctions bill, which is being discussed in the US Senate, is seen not only as targeting the Kremlin but could also become a new instrument for President Donald Trump to impose high tariffs on countries that are considered to still have relations with Russian energy, including EU countries.

— Article TextExplaining the potential impact of the US sanctions bill on EU countries.

The bill was originally drafted by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal as a response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, aiming for more aggressive sanctions against Moscow. However, experts suggest its substance extends beyond conventional sanctions, granting the White House significant power to impose trade tariffs of up to 100% on specific countries.

The bill's momentum grew following Graham's death in July, with senators seeking to advance his political legacy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly supported the bill's passage during Graham's funeral, viewing it as a strong signal of U.S. commitment to pressuring Russia and supporting Ukraine and its European allies.

The new regulation will be a strong signal that the United States remains committed to increasing pressure on Russia while providing strategic support to Ukraine and its allies in Europe.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyUkrainian President's view on the proposed sanctions bill.

While the bill expands sanctions against Russia by restricting transactions with financial institutions, officials, and oligarchs, a key provision, Article 113, draws significant attention. This article empowers the U.S. president to levy tariffs of up to 100% on all imports from countries that are major buyers of Russian oil and gas or are deemed to assist in circumventing energy sanctions. Although ostensibly targeting China and India, the bill's broad language raises concerns among international legal experts about potential political interpretations and its application to other nations.

The determination of which countries meet these categories is entirely in the hands of the White House.

— Article TextHighlighting the discretionary power granted to the US administration regarding the sanctions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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