Written by: Islam Al-Saqqa
US President Donald Trump announced a decision to exempt five countries from the application of the 100% tariff law related to the purchase of oil and gas from Russia. The list of countries exempted from these tariffs includes India, China, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan.
Details of the Presidential Decision
This measure followed President Trump's signing of an executive order granting an exemption from the 'Graham' law, which was passed by Congress last September. This exemption aims to ease the pressures associated with purchasing Russian energy resources, and this status will remain in effect until a new decision is made by the President or the Secretaries of State and Treasury regarding future steps.
Trump's Defense of the Decision
In statements made in Miami, Trump confirmed that his decision is in the interest of the United States, pointing out that it would also be beneficial to the world given America's position on the international stage. He explained that the true dimensions of this decision may not be entirely clear to everyone at the moment, but they will become evident in the future.
Widespread Parliamentary Criticism
The decision faced criticism from leaders of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Among the opponents, Republican Senator Darlene Graham expressed her reservations about the move, noting her preference for pressuring Russia to end the war and lower gas prices, while expressing her lack of trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin.
