Trump signs Russia sanctions bill; Moscow calls it 'trade war'

[webfact]

Trump signs Russia sanctions bill; Moscow calls it 'trade war'

By Roberta Rampton and Patricia Zengerle

 

U.S. President Donald Trump awards the Medal of Honor to James McCloughan, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, U.S. July 31, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump grudgingly signed into law new sanctions against Russia on Wednesday, a move Moscow said amounted to a full-scale trade war and an end to hopes for better ties with the Trump administration.

 

Congress overwhelmingly approved the legislation last week, passing a measure that conflicts with the Republican president's desire to improve relations with Moscow.

 

While Trump signed the bill, he criticized it as infringing on his powers to shape foreign policy and said he could make "far better deals" with governments than Congress can.

 

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called the sanctions tantamount to a "full-scale trade war," adding in a Facebook post that they showed the Trump administration had demonstrated "utter powerlessness."

 

"The hope that our relations with the new American administration would improve is finished," he wrote.

 

Trump's litany of concerns about the sanctions, which also affect Iran and North Korea, nonetheless raised the question of how vigorously Trump will enforce them and pursue action against Russia.

 

"While I favour tough measures to punish and deter aggressive and destabilising behaviour by Iran, North Korea, and Russia, this legislation is significantly flawed," Trump said in a message to lawmakers.

 

The new law allows Congress to stop any effort by Trump to ease sanctions on Russia.

 

Trump said in a separate statement that he was signing the measure "for the sake of national unity" even though he saw problems with it.

 

His hands were tied after the Republican-controlled Congress approved the legislation by such a large margin last week that any presidential veto of the bill would have been overridden.

 

Congress passed the measure to punish Russia over interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea.

 

The legislation has provoked countermeasures by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said on Sunday the U.S. diplomatic mission in Russia must reduce its staff by 755 people. Russia is also seizing two properties near Moscow used by American diplomats.

 

Trump has repeatedly said he wants to improve relations with Russia. That desire has been stymied by U.S. intelligence agencies' findings that Russia interfered to help the Republican against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

 

U.S. congressional panels and a special counsel are investigating. Moscow denies any meddling and Trump denies any collusion by his campaign.

 

NO FANFARE FOR BILL SIGNING

 

Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan welcomed the signing, saying in a statement it would send "a powerful message to our adversaries that they will be held accountable for their actions."

 

But Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he was disappointed that Trump chose to sign the legislation behind closed doors, without the fanfare of television cameras and reporters present.

 

"The fact (that) he does this kind of quietly I think reinforces the narrative that the Trump administration is not really serious about pushing back on Russia," Graham said in a CNN interview.

 

The House's top Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, expressed concern about Trump's signing statement, saying it "raises serious questions about whether his administration intends to follow the law, or whether he will continue to enable and reward Vladimir Putin's aggression."

 

In his statements about the sanctions law, Trump complained about what he said was congressional infringement on the president's constitutional power to set foreign policy.

 

Trump said he was elected partly because of his successes in business, adding, "As President, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress."

 

The sanctions will affect a range of Russian industries and might further hurt Russia's economy, already weakened by 2014 sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea.

 

Trump's signing statement was the latest in a series of mixed signals from the administration on Russia.

 

Vice President Mike Pence, touring Baltic countries adjacent to Russia, has followed a hawkish line. Pence said Trump's signing of the legislation would show that Congress and the president were "speaking with a unified voice" on Russia.

 

However, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, like Trump, has been critical of the legislation.

 

"The action by the Congress to put these sanctions in place and the way they did, neither the president nor I were very happy about that," Tillerson said on Tuesday.

 

TARGETING THE ENERGY SECTOR

 

Besides angering Moscow, the legislation has upset the European Union, which has said the new sanctions might affect its energy security and prompt it to act, too.

 

Several provisions of the law target the Russian energy sector, with new limits on U.S. investment in Russian companies. American companies also would be barred from participating in energy exploration projects where Russian firms have a stake of 33 percent or higher.

 

The legislation includes sanctions on foreign companies investing in or helping Russian energy exploration, although the president could waive those sanctions.

 

It would give the Trump administration the option of imposing sanctions on companies helping develop Russian export pipelines, such as the Nord Stream 2 pipeline carrying natural gas to Europe, in which German companies are involved.

 

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey, Caren Bohan, Lawrence Hurley in Washington, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations and Alexander Winning in Moscow; Writing by Frances Kerry; Editing by Caren Bohan and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-08-03

[Silurian]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

But Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he was disappointed that Trump chose to sign the legislation behind closed doors, without the fanfare of television cameras and reporters present.

 

Well, Mr. Limelight doesn't want to appear on TV? Wow, mark this day that Donald shunned the TV cameras. He was more proud of his Access Hollywood "locker room" video than he is about televising signing these Russian sanctions.

 

I wonder what or who he is hiding from. Gee, I really wonder. How long before those Russian loans dry up and previous ones are called in? Twisting in the wind....twist...twist...twist.

 

[stevenl]

8 minutes ago, Silurian said:

 

Well, Mr. Limelight doesn't want to appear on TV? Wow, mark this day that Donald shunned the TV cameras. He was more proud of his Access Hollywood "locker room" video than he is about televising signing these Russian sanctions.

 

I wonder what or who he is hiding from. Gee, I really wonder. How long before those Russian loans dry up and previous ones are called in? Twisting in the wind....twist...twist...twist.

 

"How long before those Russian loans dry up and previous ones are called in?"

 

Yes, that would do him in, and would be much faster and easier than impeachment, Muller, etc.

[IAMHERE]

Trump would only have been 'overridden' by Congress if he had vetoed that bill. It passed both houses with at least 98% 'YES' votes.

[Silurian]

7 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

Trump would only have been 'overridden' by Congress if he had vetoed that bill. It passed both houses with at least 98% 'YES' votes.

 

I was so hoping that Donald would veto the bill and show his true colors, but alas President General Kelly most likely guided the outcome of this one. Looks like Nanny Kelly is in charge for now.

 

[craigt3365]

11 minutes ago, Silurian said:

 

I was so hoping that Donald would veto the bill and show his true colors, but alas President General Kelly most likely guided the outcome of this one. Looks like Nanny Kelly is in charge for now.

 

Trump was boxed in.  Congress had the votes to overturn his veto.  He would have lost a lot of political power if that happened.  It had nothing to do with Kelly.  And everything to do with congress going after Russian aggression.

[halloween]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"As President, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress."

But better for whom?

Edited August 3, 2017 by halloween

[mike324]

Trump is learning running a country is not like running a business, you don't always get your way by being a bully which trump has been and use to always get things his way

[Silurian]

3 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Trump was boxed in.  Congress had the votes to overturn his veto.  He would have lost a lot of political power if that happened.  It had nothing to do with Kelly.  And everything to do with congress going after Russian aggression.

 

While I agree Donald would have lost a lot of political power if he vetoed the bill, I highly doubt he really cared. He has shown a willingness to forgo standard thought processes and just go with his "feelings". He stated he thought the bill was "seriously flawed" and only begrudgingly signed it. I am pretty sure that Kelly and other aides eventually convinced Donald to sign it. It took 6 days to get signed. Why is that? I bet there was a few times in there that it could have gone either way. He isn't proud of signing it, he isn't happy about it and he sure as heck doesn't want it splashed all over the TV.

 

Poor Donald, he sure is going to have a hard time now to keep any promises made to Russia. How is that "back channel" to Russia coming along?

Edited August 3, 2017 by Silurian

[craigt3365]

3 minutes ago, Silurian said:

 

While I agree Donald would have lost a lot of political power if he vetoed the bill, I highly doubt he really cared. He has shown a willingness to forgo standard thought processes and just go with his "feelings". He stated he thought the bill was "seriously flawed" and only begrudgingly signed it. I am pretty sure that Kelly and other aides eventually convinced Donald to sign it. It took 6 days to get signed. Why is that? I bet there was a few times in there that it could have gone either way. He isn't proud of signing it, he isn't happy about it and he sure as heck doesn't want it splashed all over the TV.

 

Poor Donald, he sure is going to have a hard time now to keep any promises made to Russia. How is that "back channel" to Russia coming along?

I think also, anything to do with Russia having an impact on the election, suggests he didn't win on his own.  And Trump won't stand for that!  He won by a "bigly margin"!!! LOL

[dutchisaan]

Why is the Donald afraid of Putin.

because he and his family have to much to hide!!

[dunroaming]

Interesting to see just how long Trump will do what he is told by Kelly.  Can the man-child truly be tamed by his new nanny?  Time will tell.

[mikebike]

 
I was so hoping that Donald would veto the bill and show his true colors, but alas President Looks like Nanny Kelly is in charge for now.
 

Looks like he's in charge for at least a coupla weeks... apparently 45 feels like he's earned an extended vaycay.

[Kiwiken]

Should they move to ban the deals on US made airliners for the Russian carriers will make good business for the Europeans

[Srikcir]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

"As President, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress."

Name one.

 

[Credo]

7 hours ago, Silurian said:

 

While I agree Donald would have lost a lot of political power if he vetoed the bill, I highly doubt he really cared. He has shown a willingness to forgo standard thought processes and just go with his "feelings". He stated he thought the bill was "seriously flawed" and only begrudgingly signed it. I am pretty sure that Kelly and other aides eventually convinced Donald to sign it. It took 6 days to get signed. Why is that? I bet there was a few times in there that it could have gone either way. He isn't proud of signing it, he isn't happy about it and he sure as heck doesn't want it splashed all over the TV.

 

Poor Donald, he sure is going to have a hard time now to keep any promises made to Russia. How is that "back channel" to Russia coming along?

It's pretty clear that whatever Donald has with Putin and Russia is personal and hidden.   Had he been dealing with Russia about Syria, NK or any other issues, he would have a great deal of leverage with Congress.   He didn't and he doesn't.   His relationship is something he doesn't want made public and is not in the interest of the US.   It's in Donald's interest.   And those two interests are very, very different.   

[craigt3365]

13 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

Should they move to ban the deals on US made airliners for the Russian carriers will make good business for the Europeans

Don't think that will happen:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a21270/russian-build-commercial-airliner/

Quote

Russia Says Its New Commercial Airliner Is as Good as Any Boeing or Airbus

 

http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/23/news/companies/china-russia-airplane-partnership/index.html

 

Quote

 

China and Russia are teaming up to take on Airbus and Boeing.

On Monday, the state-owned commercial aerospace enterprises of both countries formally established the China-Russia Commercial Aircraft International Co., Ltd or Craic.

The partnership will develop a new twin-aisle airliner that's meant to compete with the most advanced jets from Boeing (BA) in the U.S. and Airbus (EADSF) in Europe -- the 787 Dreamliner and the A350 XWB, respectively.