Senate Resolution to Block Easing of Russia Sanctions Falls Short
A resolution that sought to reverse the Trump administration’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian companies — including aluminum heavyweight United Company Rusal — failed to pass this week, coming in at a 57-42 vote (just short of the 60 votes needed to pass).
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Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced the resolution Jan. 4, after which it was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
The resolution states that Congress “disapproves of the action relating to the application of sanctions imposed with respect to the Russian Federation proposed by the President in the report submitted to Congress under section 216(a)(1) of the Russia Sanctions Review Act of 2017 on December 19, 2018, relating to terminating sanctions imposed on En+ Group plc (“En+”), UC Rusal plc (“Rusal”), and JSC EuroSibEnergo (“ESE”).”
In April 2018, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against several Russian companies and their owners, including Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and Rusal (the second-largest aluminum producer in the world).
The April announcement sent aluminum prices skyrocketing on fears of Rusal aluminum being taken off the market.
As has been noted here previously, the Treasury proceeded to delay its deadline for U.S. companies to unwind business relations with the listed Russian firms, first from Oct. 23 to Nov. 12, to Dec.12, then Jan. 7, then Jan. 21.
However, on Dec. 19, 2019, the Treasury announced intentions to delist En+ Group (which has a controlling interest in Rusal), Rusal, and EuroSibEnergo.
“Treasury sanctioned these companies because of their ownership and control by sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, not for the conduct of the companies themselves. These companies have committed to significantly diminish Deripaska’s ownership and sever his control. The companies will be subject to ongoing compliance and will face severe consequences if they fail to comply,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a release at the time. “OFAC maintains the ability under the terms of the agreement to have unprecedented levels of transparency into operations.”
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Notably, although the resolution ultimately did not receive the requisite votes to pass, 11 Senate Republicans voted in favor of the resolution to reverse the decision to ease sanctions — representing a now rare instance of bipartisanship.
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