Trump signs sanctions bill 'for sake of national unity'

MOSCOW - With a new sanctions bill enacted on Wednesday, the United States has declared a full-scale trade war against Russia, killing hope for easing the tension in bilateral relations, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said.

"The hope of improving our relations with the new US administration has come to an end," Medvedev said via the social network platform Facebook, commenting on the signing into law of a new US sanctions bill by President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration had demonstrated "complete impotence, in the most humiliating manner, transferring executive powers to Congress," Medvedev said.

As the new sanctions make it difficult to remove the measures against Moscow that may last decades, Medvedev foresaw little room for improving bilateral ties.

"The relationship between Russia and the United States will be extremely tense, regardless of the composition of the Congress or the personality of the president," he said.

The Russian prime minister indicated economic retaliation by saying that Russia will reduce its reliance on Western imports.

In a pre-emptive diplomatic move against the new sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the US to reduces its diplomatic staff in the country by 755 employees by Sept 1.

Calling it "significantly flawed", Trump on Wednesday signed into law the bill that also imposes sanctions against Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The bill was approved overwhelmingly in July by the US Congress despite the White House urging "flexibility" in dealing with Russia, partly representing a bipartisan move to punish Moscow over its alleged meddling in the US presidential election last year.

"Congress could not even negotiate a healthcare bill after seven years of talking," Trump said of lawmakers' recent failure to repeal "Obamacare" as Republicans have promised for years. "As president, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress."

Still, he said: "despite its problems, I am signing this bill for the sake of national unity."

Trump's reluctant signature highlights more difficulties ahead in diplomatic efforts for both Washington and Moscow to resolve their conflict on such thorny issues as of the Middle East and Ukraine.

It also displays Trump's increasing troubles at home, such as his crippled legislative agenda marked by failed efforts against the healthcare system, in the aftermath of his campaign camp's alleged collusion with Russia.

Xinhua - Ap

(China Daily 08/04/2017 page12)