This is an orchestrated Kabuki dance. The US knows that the COMEX and LME are going to have to default because of 50 years of paper ponzi scheme manipulation of gold and silver. They needed an excuse and cover. IE. the war in Ukraine and these sanctions and pending legislation outlawing russian refined gold. The exchanges can now declare force majeure and the govts. that have allowed and conspired with these criminal exchanges have an excuse to cover their asses. https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/us-tees-stop-russian-gold-act-triggering-lbma-and-comex-eject-russian-refiners