Bipartisan Russia sanctions bill stalls over Trump tariff provisions

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Democratic objections to expanding President Trump’s tariff authority are complicating Senate efforts to pass a Russia sanctions bill and could prevent what might otherwise be a unanimous vote of support for Ukraine.

Senators voted last week to begin debate on the sanctions legislation, a measure the late Sen. Lindsey Graham had worked on for more than a year before his death. More than 80 senators backed two procedural votes advancing the bill, while 12 opposed it — a strong bipartisan showing that signals U.S. support for Ukraine as it continues fighting the war Russia launched more than four years ago.

However, opposition to provisions authorizing the president to impose steep tariffs on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas is threatening that unity. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democrat, argued that granting Trump such tariff authority risks the kind of selective enforcement he has used tariffs for in the past, and said stripping those provisions could win the bill “virtually unanimous support” in the Senate. She is among 11 Senate Democrats opposing the bill over the tariff language, joined by Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who estimated the tariffs — up to 100% on the top five buyers of Russian oil — could amount to a $500 billion tax increase.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat and a co-author of the bill, said the latest version narrows the tariff provisions with exceptions for countries reducing Russian gas imports, ensuring European allies would not be targeted.

In the House, Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, called the bill “a massive backdoor authority” for the president rather than genuine sanctions, arguing Trump has shown he would rather waive sanctions on Russia than impose them.

Other Democrats, including Sens. Chris Murphy and Mark Kelly, said they share concerns about the tariff authority but do not want it to derail support for Ukraine. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer warned that Trump would make a strategic error if he failed to use the tools as intended.

Senate leaders are working toward an agreement to pass the bill before lawmakers leave for their August recess, even as the tariff dispute continues to divide members within both parties.

Read more: Concerns about tariff authority in Russia sanctions bill undermine universal support for Ukraine