Senate Democrats Approve New Tariff Authority for President Trump to Punish Russia and Its Energy Partners
The administration announced a new tariff authority granted by the Senate to target Russian imports and the top five countries purchasing Russian energy. While Senate Democrats have historically criticized President Trump's use of tariffs, nearly the entire caucus voted to approve the package in exchange for significant sanctions against Russia. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., expressed concern that the authority must remain within the legal confines of the package to prevent the administration from overreaching. He noted that if President Trump exceeds these limits, the courts will intervene. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., also sought to establish guardrails to ensure the administration does not impose duties as it pleases. Despite the approval, some senators warned that the authority could lead to higher prices for American consumers. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., cautioned that the administration might use the new power to threaten trading partners and raise costs for the American people. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., joined Wyden in opposing the other tariffs, warning that the duties are essentially an additional tax on the American people.