The Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act, approved 424-8, will give the president authority to increase tariffs on the two nations until January 1, 2024, the CNN reported.
If passed by the House and signed into law by President Joe Biden, the new bill would suspend normal trade relations with both Moscow and Belarus, which may lead to the application of tariffs above the World Trade Organization standards.
The support for that measure comes just a day after Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky asked Congress in a virtual speech for increased sanctions against Russia, more military aid and the establishment of a no-fly zone.
Approval of the legislation by the House comes one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an emotional appeal in a virtual address to Congress for increased US assistance as the country faces deadly ongoing military operations from Russia.
President Joe Biden announced past week that the US, along with the G7 and European Union, would call for revoking “most favored nation” status for Moscow, referred to as permanent normal trade relations in the United States.
The nonstop approval of sanctions against Russia displaced domestic problems from US politicians´ agenda, who provide the Ukrainian troops with funds to cover armament, intelligence and cybersecurity expenses.
Moscow, on the other hand, said that Washington’s constant military support for Kyiv will not ease the end of its military operation, whose goals are precisely to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine.
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