Post-Helsinki Product Exclusion Tied to Russian Oligarch Seems Designed for Vladimir Putin
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Tax Policy Subcommittee, spoke in a trade hearing today regarding the new aluminum product exclusion benefitting a sanctioned Russian company, which was approved by the Trump Administration a mere three days after the Trump-Putin Helsinki summit. Watch his speech here:
"On July 16, Mr. Trump surrendered to Mr. Putin at a two-hour meeting, which was so secret that even the director he appointed as the head of the CIA could not attend. A mere three days later, Rusal USA got their exclusion approved by the Commerce Department," said Rep. Doggett. "They are now permitted to import 3 million kilograms of aluminum commodity billet tariff-free from their parent in Russia, which has been under sanctions."
Rep. Doggett continued, "I want to draw attention to who the people are that are working with Rusal USA from their Russian parent, Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg, who are the two largest shareholders. And they remain under individual sanctions because of the malign activity of the Russians and the conclusions of a number of our diplomats in leaked cables that they are two or three of the oligarchs that are closest to Putin and to whom he turns on a regular basis. Mr. Deripaska has been accused of illegal wiretaps, extortion, racketeering, money laundering, and death threats against his business rivals."
"This was one tariff exclusion quickly approved, while over 28,000 exclusions are still unresolved. It certainly looks to me like Rusal got special treatment right after the surrender in Helsinki," he said.
"Secretary Ross avoided answering my specific question to him in March concerning why tariffs were applied globally rather than targeting Russia and other specific countries. Now we have another hearing where Republicans refuse to summon any Administration witness. All Secretary Ross can do is forward a one-page statement about the exclusion process and no one from the Commerce Department or the Administration can come and explain the confusing trade policy of the Trump Administration, the erratic nature of it, this is really, really unacceptable."
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