Congress has sent new legislation to President Joe Biden, to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Senate voted unanimously, 100-0 to suspend trade with Russia and the House followed with a 420-3 vote. The three who voted “no,” were Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz and Thomas Massie.
The bill was initially approved by the House in March and the vote results stood at 424-8. The president is expected to now sign this into law – meaning greater damage can be imposed on the Russian economy through higher tariffs on Russian steel and aluminum imports.
As reported by Breitbart News:
The bill allows for the restoration of normal trade relations with either country if President Biden certifies to Congress that he has determined that they agreed to withdraw from Ukraine and that there is a cease-fire that Ukraine has accepted.
Biden must also certify that the country – Russia and/or Belarus – “poses not immediate military threat of aggression” to any NATO members and that they are recognizing the Ukrainian people’s right to have their own independent government.
Should Biden submit such a certification to Congress, lawmakers would have 90 days to respond with a joint resolution of disapproval.
Additionally, the bill calls for the U.S. Trade Representative to “use the voice and influence of the United States” at the World Trade Organization to condemn the invasion of Ukraine, encourage other countries to suspend trade concessions with Russia and Belarus, contemplate additional measures with the goal of suspending Russia’s participation in the WTO, and halting Belarus’s ability to join the organization.
The only House members to vote against the bill were Republican Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Chip Roy of Texas.
Immediately following the vote on suspending trade relations, the Senate again voted unanimously to ban oil imports and energy products from Russia.
The sanctions against Russia, however, are about to hurt everyone around the world, as much needed commodities like oil and gas and wheat and grain supplies are on the brink of collapse.
Also, despite the sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports, little is being done to restart the American oil industry to gain back energy independence and stop reliance on foreign adversaries for supplies.
Interestingly, China remains unchallenged as they continue to not only subjugate their citizens but also ethnic Uyghurs, who continue to be held in concentration camps – suffering horrific abuse at the hands of the Communist Chinese.
Russia has also managed to stay afloat despite the barrage of sanctions imposed against it by the U.S and European nations – Putin is now forcing the purchase of Russian oil and gas to be made in rubles or gold – a move that has allowed the Russian currency to bounce back somewhat after tanking when sanctions were first imposed.
There is a lot of LYING going on in this administration! No US INVOLVEMENT in UKRAINE, NONE OF OUR SOLDIERS, then how was a US GENERAL caught in Ukraine fighting with the Ukraine soldiers. I am so sick of this administrations attempt to push us into a war with Russia! The man is demented, get him impeached and removed now before he actually pushes buttons. We ALL KNOW or should remember that the Ukraine has always been a corrupt and evil country, do you not remember sex and child trafficking and hub for massive money laundering, ( how do you think Zelenskyy got numerous multimillion dollar homes?? Or why the bidens have a huge compound over there with tunnels under it where the military found manacles full of human remains!!! (THANK GOD RUSSIA BOMBED THAT COMPOUND AND ALL OF THE USA’S BIO LABS THERE.) That was part of the reason Russia went into Ukraine, and to get rid of NAZI’S that INNOCENT??? Zelenskyy hired! think people Zelenskyy is dictator and as corrupt as joey here!
Winston Churchill warned after the second world war that if Russia was not “taken care of while in a weakened state they would always be a thorn in the side of democracy”, He tried to get the allies to go in and bring democracy to Russia. Looks like he was right. Putin needs to be gone.