WASHINGTON—The Senate was set to pass bills Thursday to strip Russia of its most-favored-nation trade status and ban Russian oil imports before leaving on Easter recess, several weeks after the House cleared both pieces of legislation.
The Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act and the Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act both overwhelmingly passed the House last month, but neither bill had moved in the Senate. The energy ban legislation closely mirrored an executive order President Biden issued last month and it hadn’t been clear if the Senate would take up the legislation. The trade bill had been held up over several issues, including disagreements on sanctions language.