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- Beat your own people: Europe was scared by the new package of "hellish sanctions" by the United States
Beat your own people: Europe was scared by the new package of "hellish sanctions" by the United States
The new anti-Russian package of US sanctions, supported by the Senate, caused a storm of indignation in Congress. He promises direct losses to American companies. The European Union, where they are well aware of Trump's "tariff terror", has also tensed up. In Europe, they fear that the EU will eventually become the target of the law. There are broader risks: an extremely dangerous combination of sanctions and import duties. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
They split the congress
The package of "hellish sanctions" from the late Senator Graham (listed as an extremist and terrorist by Rosfinmonitoring) has already been launched in the US Senate, but it immediately stirred up Congress.
The key concerns are related to the possible expansion of the powers of the US president in tariff policy. This includes, in particular, the right to impose secondary duties of up to 100% on imports from countries that purchase resources from Moscow — oil, uranium, and natural gas.
Secondary restrictions clearly promise problems for American businesses with China and India. These major economies are not only key buyers of Russian resources, but also America's most important trading partners. A spike in inflation is just around the corner.
It is not surprising that the dubious document, which the Senate expected to consider in an expedited manner, got stuck in the lower house of Congress. The procedure was blocked by Democratic Senator Rafael Warnock. He opposed the expansion of President Donald Trump's authority to impose new tariffs, as this could lead to higher prices.
The Republicans expected to submit the initiative to the final vote before the August holidays, now the timing of further movement is uncertain.
Europe is tense
The authors of the initiative do not hide the fact that the main target of the sanctions package is China and India. However, European companies have already begun to assess the risk of falling under American restrictions. And quite reasonably.
"On paper," the allies are insured: the document includes an exception for countries that "account for less than 15% of Russian exports and are working to reduce their dependence on Russia in the future." However, much will depend on how broadly the US administration decides to interpret the possibility of imposing duties.
And here, the probability that European companies may fall under American restrictions in the context of possible secondary tariffs is very high. Especially considering that the US-EU trade relations have been going through a very difficult period for a long time.
Thus, Section 113 authorizes the President of the United States to impose duties of up to 100% on all goods imported from countries that are either among the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas, or among the five countries that circumvent sanctions on Russian oil. Those who make "new purchases" of Russian oil and gas are also under attack.
They leaned on LNG
The European Union remains one of the largest consumers of Russian LNG and thus becomes a potential target of new sanctions if they are adopted. And in the first half of 2026, its imports increased sharply - to almost 10 million tons — ahead of a permanent ban scheduled for January 2027. Pipeline gas continues to flow, albeit in smaller volumes.
In January–May, LNG imports increased by 11% year-on-year, while pipeline shipments increased by 7%.
— Many European companies, especially in the energy sector, have been forced to look for alternatives to Russian energy supplies due to EU sanctions and the geopolitical situation. However, if supplies from Russia continue, even in smaller volumes, and companies are connected to them in one way or another (for example, through logistics, processing, or as end consumers), they may also be targeted. Decisions to impose tariffs are often politically motivated," says Sergey Tolkachev, professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.
However, it is not only the "excessive" appetites for Russian energy resources on the part of the EU that are at risk.
— Section 102 of the draft law extends sanctions to those who provide insurance and reinsurance to the vessels of the so-called shadow fleet, and the European market serves a significant share of the global tanker tonnage. And there is also a norm for owners and operators of ports allowing entry of sanctioned vessels," emphasizes Dmitry Isakov, CEO of Lender Invest investment platform.
Business implications
If the mechanism works, European companies will face several problems at once.
Firstly, regulatory risks will increase. Businesses will have to take into account not only European sanctions against Russia, but also the likelihood of US tariffs when purchasing raw materials, working with traders and choosing suppliers.
Verifying the origin of energy resources, logistics chains, and counterparties will become even more difficult and expensive.
All this promises extreme uncertainty for investments. Under threat of duties (even if there are none) The very existence of such a tool can deter investment decisions.
Finally, energy, petrochemicals, metallurgy, transport, and trading — all industries where complex international supply chains persist - will be directly affected.
A dangerous precedent
A key threat to the entire global trade is posed by a change in the very architecture of restrictions: anti-Russian sanctions are directly linked to the possibility of imposing import duties.
Washington actually combines two different pressure regimes. Classic secondary sanctions restrict companies' access to the American financial system, dollar settlements, and the capital market. Import tariffs, on the contrary, are a tool of trade policy, they increase the cost of goods' access to the American market.
This combination creates a powerful universal instrument of pressure on both opponents and allies.
Previously, duties were a tool of trade policy, but now they can be used as a sanctions weapon. For businesses, this means that the success of a deal depends less and less on economics and more and more on geopolitics. As a result, companies will rebuild supply chains not because it is cheaper or more efficient, but to avoid political risks. Global trade will become more expensive, more complex, and less predictable.
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