United States Congress voted overwhelmingly Thursday to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and ban importing of its oil, ratcheting up the U.S. response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine amid reports of atrocities.
House action came after the Senate approved the two bills with 100-0 votes. The measures now go to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the substance of the two bills, but they had languished for weeks in the Senate as lawmakers worked to hammer out the final details.
Biden has already taken executive action to ban Russian oil, liquefied natural gas and coal to the U.S. The legislation puts effort into law.
The bill to end normal trade relations with Russia paves the way for Biden to enact higher tariffs on various imports, such as certain steel and aluminum products, further weakening the Russian economy under President Vladimir Putin. It also ensures Belarus receives less favorable tariff treatment.
Rep. Richard Neal said it was important to take action because innocent Ukrainians were being slaughtered even as lawmakers were meeting. -Agencies
