New Russia Sanctions, Unbridled Tariff Authority, and Questionable Results

Historically, Russia sanctions bills in the U.S. Congress have been bipartisan, popular, and quick to garner easy – indeed, overwhelming - approval almost as soon as Washington begins buzzing about them. You blink, and suddenly Congress has codified sanctions against Russia.

And here we are again, with a new Russia sanctions bill suddenly lurching forward – yet this time with Constitutional and economic consequences. With tariffs raining down on all sides as an empowered Executive Branch has homed in on tariffs as its preferred economic weapon of choice, the latest Russia sanctions bill carries not only an intended punch to Russia’s energy economy, it also opens a new pandora’s box on tariff authority and affordability questions.

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