The US House of Representatives, by a vote of 262 for and 159 against, approved a bill on anti-Russian sanctions, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, one of its co-authors. The document was supported by 203 Republicans, 58 Democrats and one independent congressman. The vote was broadcast by C-Span.
Seven Republicans and 152 Democrats voted against.
The Senate passed the bill in early August, and it will now go to the president's desk. If he signs the document, it will not mean immediate sanctions, but it will give the head of the White House the authority to impose them.
The document provides for duties of up to 500% on imported goods from Russia and the possibility of introducing tariffs of up to 100% against trading partners of the Russian Federation in the oil and gas sector. They could apply to the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas. An exception is provided for buyers of Russian gas: duties may not be imposed if purchases from a particular country account for less than 15% of total annual Russian gas exports and that country is taking significant steps to reduce imports from Russia. The media called these sanctions “hellish.”
At the initiative of President Donald Trump, the bill also included an extension of existing sanctions against Iran, including the country's oil and gas industry. Without appropriate legislation, they could expire at the end of this year.
