President of the United States Donald Trump has expressed his readiness to sign a new bill regarding sanctions against the Russian Federation, but emphasized the need to expand his powers to lift restrictions. Under the current version of the document, the president is allowed to temporarily lift 500% tariffs for countries purchasing Russian oil and uranium for a period of up to 180 days.
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Review of the Bill and the Trump Administration’s Position
Senator Lindsey Graham, who initiated the consideration of the bill, agreed to make changes to allow the president to lift sanctions again under Congressional oversight. The amendments proposed by the Trump administration would establish greater control for the president over the lifting of restrictions and prevent Congressional interference in these decisions.
“The administration will not be subject to micromanagement by Congress regarding the president’s foreign policy.”
In the White House, there is confidence that additional flexibility on sanctions will allow for the possibility of diplomatic breakthroughs in negotiations with Vladimir Putin. At the same time, Trump is showing increased frustration with the actions of the Russian leader, emphasizing that his ability to reach agreements has come into question.
Congress’s Plans for Considering the Bill
The U.S. Senate is considering the possibility of passing a bill on new sanctions against the Russian Federation by the end of July. Meanwhile, starting August 1, the Senate will begin its annual recess, so the issue will be addressed in the coming weeks.