New US Sanctions Damage Ties With Europe

Author (Person)
Publisher
Series Title
Series Details 25.07.17
Publication Date 25/07/2017
Content Type

The US House of Representatives voted on the 25 July 2017 to impose fresh sanctions on Russia, North Korea and Iran. The Senate voted 98-2 for the bill on the 27 July 2017. The sanctions against Russia were aimed to hit that country for alleged meddling in the 2016 US election and for its military aggression in Ukraine (including its annexation of Crimea) and Syria.

The legislation was seen as constraining President's Trump in his policy of seeking warmer relations with Russia. However, the White House stated on the 28 July 2017 that President Trump would sign the bill and thus it would become law.

Russia announced retaliatory measures.

Concern was expressed in Europe concerning the possible implications of the increased sanctions against European companies in their collaborative projects with Russia in the areas of energy (including pipeline projects such as Nord Stream), finance, railways, shipping, and metals and mining.

The European Commission and countries such as Germany and Austria, in particular, expressed concern and were said to have lobbied against the proposed legislation and secured some reassurances as to the implications for European companies. However, Germany's economy minister, Brigitte Zypries, decried the new sanctions law on the 31 July 2017 and said that violated international law by indirectly punishing European firms. She urged the EU to consider countermeasures against the US.

Source Link http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/72623?lang=en
Related Links
The Guardian, 26.07.17: Kremlin says new sanctions are sad news for US-Russia relations https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/26/russia-says-new-us-sanctions-leave-relations-in-uncharted-territory
EurActiv, 26.07.17: Juncker flexes muscles over US sanctions http://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/juncker-flexes-muscles-over-us-sanctions/
Politico, 26-27.07.17: Commission succeeds in blunting US sanctions on Russia http://www.politico.eu/article/us-russia-juncker-eu-energy-commission-succeeded-in-blunting-us-sanctions-on-russia/
Euro|Topics: Debates, July 2017: US sanctions against Europe's energy policy? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/183286/us-sanctions-against-europe-s-energy-policy
Sputnik International, 27.07.17: Trump May Either Sign Anti-Russia Sanctions Bill or Negotiate 'Even Tougher' One https://sputniknews.com/us/201707271055925056-trump-russia-sanctions-bill/
Sputnik International: Tag: Russia-Iran Sanctions Bill https://sputniknews.com/trend/russia_iran_sanctions_bill/
The New York Times, 25.07.17: E.U. Is Uneasy, and Divided, About U.S. Sanctions on Russia https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/world/europe/eu-uneasy-about-impact-of-new-us-sanctions-on-russia.html
Deutsche Welle, 31.07.17: Germany calls for EU countermeasures against US following Russian sanctions http://p.dw.com/p/2hSqs
BBC News, 25.07.17: US moves one step closer to imposing fresh Russia sanctions http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40722299
Reuters, 24.07.17: EU divided on how to answer new U.S. sanctions against Russia https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-sanctions-eu-idUSKBN1A91TP
ESO: Background information: U.S. Sanctions and Russia’s Economy (United States: Library of Congress: Congressional Research Service (CRS): Reports and Issue Briefs R43895, 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/u-s-sanctions-and-russias-economy/
Politico, 26.07.17: US House approves Russia sanctions that handcuff Trump http://www.politico.eu/article/us-house-approves-russia-sanctions-that-handcuff-trump/
Politico, 24-25.07.17: Brussels prepares to bite back at US over Russia sanctions http://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-prepares-to-bite-back-at-us-over-russia-sanctions/
ESO: Background information: U.S.-EU Cooperation on Ukraine and Russia (United States: Library of Congress: Congressional Research Service (CRS): Reports and Issue Briefs CRS Insights, March 2015) http://www.europeansources.info/record/u-s-eu-cooperation-on-ukraine-and-russia/
EurActiv, 26.07.17: US House votes new sanctions on Russia, Iran, North Korea http://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/us-house-votes-new-sanctions-on-russia-iran-nkorea/
EUObserver, 25.07.17: US votes to sanction EU firms in Russia project https://euobserver.com/foreign/138601
Politico, 28-29.07.17: Russia punches back at sanctions, tells US to cut diplomats http://www.politico.eu/article/russia-punches-back-at-sanctions-tells-us-to-cut-diplomats/
Politico, 29.07.17: Trump signs Russia sanctions bill he opposed http://www.politico.eu/article/trump-signs-russia-sanctions-bill-he-opposed/
The Washington Post, 29.07.17: [Analysis]: Trump gets a major bill, and it’s Russia sanctions https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/analysis-trump-gets-a-major-bill-and-its-russia-sanctions/2017/07/29/a54ddfe2-745b-11e7-8c17-533c52b2f014_story.html
EUObserver, 28.07.17: Senate backs Russia sanctions, setting scene for EU clash https://euobserver.com/foreign/138637
EurActiv, 28.07.17: Berlin says it won’t accept any new US sanctions against Russia http://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/berlin-says-it-wont-accept-any-new-us-sanctions-against-russia/
EurActiv, 31.07.17: US will ‘work closely’ with its allies after new sanctions against Moscow http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/us-will-work-closely-with-its-allies-after-new-sanctions-against-moscow/
US: State Department: Secretary of State: Secretary of State's Remarks July 2017: On Sanctions Legislation Share (29.07.17) https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2017/07/272938.htm
Politico, 30-31.07.17: Putin expelling 755 US diplomats from Russia http://www.politico.eu/article/russia-sanctions-trump-putin-expelling-755-us-diplomats/
Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 03.08.17: Increasing Western Tolerance of Russian Overreaction http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/72708?lang=en
European Commission: DG Communication: STATEMENT/17/2302, 02.08.17: European Commission President Juncker: New US sanctions on Russia only after consultation of allies http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-17-2302_en.htm
BBC News, 28.07.17: Russia sanctions: Trump's hand forced by Senate vote http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40748684
Politico, 28.07.17: US Congress sends Russia sanctions to Trump’s desk, daring a veto http://www.politico.eu/article/us-congress-sends-russia-sanctions-to-trumps-desk-daring-a-veto/

Subject Categories
Countries / Regions , ,