US Senate fails to uphold bid to keep sanctions against RUSAL, En+

WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (PRIME) -- The U.S. Senate has failed to approve swiftly a resolution to keep sanctions on companies tied to Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska, including aluminum giant UC RUSAL and multi-industry holding En+ Group, as seen by PRIME in the voting data late on Wednesday.

Senators voted 57 against 42 in support of finishing the debates and passing the legislation for a final vote, while the necessary number of supportive votes to advance the resolution is 60. Besides the senate, the House of Representatives should also approve the resolution, after which it will be submitted to U.S. President Donald Trump for signing.

The Treasury prolonged the deadline for expiration of some licenses of En+, RUSAL, and power producer EuroSibEnergo until January 28 for technical steps to sign agreements with the department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

In April, the U.S. imposed sanctions against 38 Russian tycoons, officials and companies including Deripaska and his assets.

In December, the Treasury said it would lift the sanctions imposed on En+ Group and EuroSibEnergo, as well as RUSAL in 30 days, but will retain sanctions against Deripaska personally. The resolution against the lifting of sanctions was made by Senator Chuck Schumer, who said that Deripaska would keep real control over the companies even after fulfilling the U.S. demand to reduce the stake.

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