On Thursday, the Senate unanimously passed legislation that would downgrade Russia and Belarus’ trade status and also agreed unanimously on a bill to ban Russian energy imports. Later in the day, the House also passed the legislation, sending it to President Biden’s desk.
The Senate voted 100-o on both bills, demonstrating the bipartisan support for the sanctions campaign against Russia. The Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act strips the two nations of their “most favored nation trade status,” which paves the way for tariffs and other trade restrictions.
The Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act reinforces an executive order signed by President Biden last month that bans the import of Russian oil, coal, and natural gas. Biden signed the order as Americans were facing record-high gas prices.
The legislation banning energy imports passed in the House in a vote of 413-9, while the trade relations legislation had less resistance and passed in a vote of 420-3. The no votes for the trade relations bill were Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).
While the US continues to ramp up the economic pressure on Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t appear to be phased. The Russian leaders’ approval rating reached 83% in March, up from 69% in January. There’s no doubt the sanctions campaign is hurting Russia’s economy, but the pain is being felt by ordinary Russians.
Russia has already downgraded US trade status, obviously. And as the “Perfect Weapon” song goes (from “Blade Runner Black Lotus”), “It’s gonna get real, real messy” once Russia’s real counter-sanctions come – like cutting off food exports and oil and gas to unfriendly countries. That won’t happen over night, but it’s expected over time.
But why is Russia holding on to its trump?
putin was the leader of russia back when trump was still a democrat
Anyone’s guess. But everything Putin and his team does is deliberate.
HA HA HA!!US democracy in action. Were any people in the population consulted?
I keep hearing Russia’s economy is being hurt. I don’t doubt it but it’s a common theme that whoever they sanction their economy is all of the sudden considered in “shambles” by western media.
Something tells me it’s not severe.
I would imagine Russian economists figured it out before the invasion. The longer is lasts, the more evident Democrats will lose a bunch of seats in the mid-terms.