Trump Punishes Russia By Raising Prices For Americans

President Donald Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on Friday, delivering Washington’s most sophisticated penalty against Moscow yet: dramatically higher costs for Americans buying goods from countries other than Russia. The bipartisan measure targets Russian officials, banks, energy companies, defense industries and sanctions-evading oil tankers while authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on nations that purchase Russian oil and gas. Under the plan, American importers will send larger checks to the U.S. Treasury, pass the expense to consumers and wait for President Vladimir Putin to become overwhelmed by remorse.

“Nobody has ever punished Russia like this,” Trump said. “We put tariffs on other countries, Americans pay more for everything, and Putin has to sit there knowing we did that. It is very humiliating for him.” Administration officials said the strategy closes a longstanding loophole that allowed Russia to escape punishment whenever sanctions actually targeted Russia. By redirecting the financial damage toward U.S. households and trading partners, officials explained, the government can demonstrate resolve without burdening the Kremlin with measurable consequences.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, the bill’s chief advocate and a senator who remains fully available to explain it, said the measure would force countries to choose between buying Russian energy and retaining affordable access to American markets. Economists noted that foreign exporters may absorb some costs, although importers and consumers traditionally pay tariffs, an inconvenient technicality the administration has classified as disloyal arithmetic. The law also grants Trump broad authority to waive, delay, redirect or threaten penalties depending on negotiations, television coverage and whether the targeted country has recently complimented him.

White House officials described that uncertainty as the legislation’s strongest deterrent. Moscow cannot prepare for sanctions that may be postponed, diluted or imposed on an unrelated ally, while Americans cannot avoid price increases on products selected to make the president appear maximally stern. Russia has therefore been decisively punished: Americans will pay more.

* None of the quotes in this article were spoken by an actual person. More info.