The measure also limited any effort by the White House to weaken such penalties. Trump did not indicate whether he will sign the bill, which also gives PTC Manufacturers Congress a way to block any easing of new sanctions against Russia, North Korea and Iran, as well as older ones against Russia.The bill awaits a final vote in the Senate before it can be presented to US President Donald Trump. America first cannot mean that Europes interests come last. This is why the Commission concluded today that if our concerns are not taken into account sufficiently, we stand ready to act appropriately within a matter of days, he said.Russia also reacted angrily, saying the sanctions bill passed by the US House of Representatives on Tuesday risked worsening the already poor relations between the two countries.

The bill targeted key Russian officials in retaliation for Moscows alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election. But it feared the latest measures could hit companies that were involved in the financing of a controversial new pipeline, Nord Stream 2, that would carry natural gas from Russia to Germany.Brussels, July 26 (IANS) The European Union on Wednesday delivered a stern warning to the US over its plan to impose new sanctions on Russia, opening up the prospect of a rift between the two allies over how to deal with Moscows foreign interventions.Juncker said the bill could have unintended unilateral effects on the EUs energy security.The EU had previously coordinated with the US over sanctions in response to Russias annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.IANSsoni/dgPost Source: Ians feed.

Germany, which strongly backs the new pipeline, said it was concerned over the sanctions. It would be unacceptable for the US to use possible sanctions as an instrument to serve the interests of US industry policies, Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schäfer said.EU President Jean-Claude Juncker said the bloc would act within days if it does not receive reassurances on the potential impact of new sanctions on European interests, CNN reported. It also called for new measures against North Korea and Iran.