Russian sanctions bill stalled in U.S. Congress as lawmakers weigh gas prices — Bloomberg

The draft legislation, that already passed the U.S. Senate, faces substantial bipartisan headwinds in the House of Representatives and is unlikely to reach the floor for a vote prior to the November elections.

The bill would grant the executive branch the authority to impose 100% tariffs against the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, as well as third-party countries facilitating Moscow’s evasion of energy restrictions. Major global importers including China, India, and Turkiye are cited as primary targets of the proposed measures.

However, resistance is mounting within the House of Representatives. A faction of lawmakers warns that the punitive measures could trigger an immediate spike in global crude benchmarks, directly driving up domestic gasoline costs for American consumers ahead of elections.

Lawmakers also voiced concern that the statutory language would grant President Donald Trump expansive, unilateral authority to implement sweeping tariff regimes. A coalition of Democrats and select Republicans opposes such broad executive power.

Retail industry representatives and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have similarly criticized the bill, expressing concern that the legislation could establish a broad legal foundation for an aggressive tariff regime.

In the Senate, the measure secured overwhelming passage by an 86–11 margin. House sentiment, however, remains considerably more skeptical.

House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed that a floor vote is unlikely to occur prior to the Nov. 3 elections.

Lawmakers are factoring in the market destabilization that would occur if primary importers of Russian crude are abruptly forced to secure alternate energy supplies in an already volatile market.

Conversely, proponents of the sanctions urge quick action. Senator Richard Blumenthal argued that escalating economic pressure on Moscow is an urgent necessity as Russia continues its full-scale war against Ukraine.