A Bill Intended for Russia Might Target Europe
A draft sanctions bill being debated in the US Senate may not fulfill its intended purpose. While the legislation aims to cut off financial support for the Russian military, it could instead give Donald Trump a powerful tool to impose high tariffs on both allies and rivals. The bill was designed to push the Trump administration into tightening economic pressure on Russia. However, the wording might allow the president to target countries that still import Russian oil and gas, including European nations. Europeans have spent 18 months urging Washington to use its financial power to impose tough sanctions on Russia. They may soon face regret over that appeal. The legal text was promoted by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Blumenthal, both strong supporters of Ukraine, in an effort to push Trump to take stronger action against the Kremlin—something the president has refused to do. Graham's recent death has reignited support for the stalled bill, with colleagues aiming to honor his legacy by turning it into law. 'It's also a big signal to Europe, a big signal to Ukraine, a big support of our people.'
The bill's most controversial feature is found in Section 113. This section gives the president the power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on all goods from the top five countries importing Russian oil and gas, and from those aiding in the evasion of sanctions. The language is broad, and could easily apply to European nations such as Germany, Spain, and Italy, which maintain long-standing energy relationships with Russia. The bill also includes primary sanctions and duties against Russia, such as financial transaction prohibitions with banks and institutions. Officials, oligarchs, and
Supporters argue the tariffs are aimed at China and India, which continue to buy Russian fossil fuels, keeping the Russian economy afloat. Critics, however, warn the vague wording could be misused to justify steep tariffs on European imports. The EU has already clashed with Trump over trade issues, and the bill could give the administration grounds to retaliate further. The bill grants broad executive power, uses undefined terms, and lacks strong oversight, all of which could boost Trump's ability to reshape trade and diplomacy through tariffs. Earlier this year, Trump faced a major legal loss when the Supreme Court struck down his
Maria Shagina, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the bill was specifically designed to include tariffs as a central element to win Trump’s backing and increase its chances of passing. 'Tariffs are more likely to serve the administration’s trade and domestic political agenda than to hurt Russia economically,' she said in an interview with Euronews. 'This means the bill could actually give the president more trade power than it strengthens the sanctions framework.' Shagina further explained that the bill's focus on tariffs, rather than traditional sanctions, was strategic to attract Trump’s support. As a result, the bill may ultimately expand presidential trade powers more than it strengthens the sanctions regime.'
The European Union continues to rely heavily on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). Imports reached nearly 10 million metric tons in the first half of the year, before a full ban on Russian LNG is set for January 2027. Trump has already hinted at wanting to impose new tariffs on the EU. The recent €890 million fine the EU imposed on Google for allegedly favoring its own apps has only fueled Trump’s anger and raised concerns about the Turnberry agreement, which limits US tariffs to 15% to ease trade tensions. The new law could give the administration a legal basis to take action against the EU. The bloc remains one of the top consumers of Russian LNG, with imports rising in the first half of the year ahead of the 2027 ban, reaching nearly 10 million metric tons.
European diplomats are trying to prevent new trade conflicts in Washington. However, the bill could be used to justify tariffs on European goods under the guise of enforcing sanctions against Russia. The bill’s path through the House of Representatives is unclear, especially with Congress on summer break. If it becomes law, the global trade landscape could be significantly reshaped, with the EU as a likely target under the proposed language.