Yesterday, President Trump signed H.R. 3364, the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act,” enacting into law limited additional sanctions against Russia and, critically, restricting his ability to suspend or remove these new sanctions or those previously imposed in connection with Russian activities in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. Notwithstanding media focus on “new” sanctions imposed against Russia, the scope of the Russia sanctions now in place has not changed materially. Of greater note, the law requires the President to seek Congressional approval to alter or end these sanctions. In connection with signing the legislation, however, the President issued a statement in which he criticized the bill as “seriously flawed” and identified several provisions that he considers unconstitutional infringements on executive authority, raising questions about his willingness to enforce them fully.

A more detailed description of the sanctions imposed against Russia, as well as limited additional sanctions imposed against Iran and North Korea, can be found in our OnPoint dated July 26, 2017.