100% US Tariffs on India? New Senate Bill Over Russian Oil Sparks Global Concern

A bipartisan group of US Senators has introduced legislation seeking to impose up to 100% tariffs on imports from India, China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan over their continued purchases of Russian oil , marking one of the strongest economic measures proposed by the US Congress against countries accused of helping finance Moscow's war effort.

The proposed legislation, unveiled on Capitol Hill, combines sweeping sanctions on Russia with targeted tariffs on the five countries identified as the largest buyers of Russian crude. If enacted, it would mark the first time the US Congress explicitly authorises tariffs as a geopolitical tool to pressure nations supporting another country's economy during a conflict.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said the bill goes far beyond tariffs, describing it as a package of full blocking sanctions aimed at key sectors of the Russian economy, including its energy, financial and defence industries , as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin , oligarchs and business leaders.

According to Blumenthal, the tariff provisions have been carefully limited to the five major purchasers of Russian oil, with narrowly defined waiver provisions. He stressed that the legislation does not target America's European allies , noting that although several European countries continue to import Russian natural gas, they are actively reducing their dependence on Moscow and their purchases represent only a small share of their energy needs.

The bill specifically exempts 15 European nations that continue to buy limited volumes of Russian gas, arguing that their circumstances differ significantly from those of the countries covered by the proposed tariffs.

The legislation is also being presented as a tribute to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham , who had spearheaded the effort before his death earlier this week. Lawmakers from both parties praised Graham for tirelessly building bipartisan support, with several describing the proposal as one of the most significant measures of his career.

The latest version of the bill is notably less severe than an earlier draft, which had proposed 500% tariffs on countries importing Russian oil and gas. Even so, the revised proposal remains a major escalation in Washington's efforts to increase economic pressure on Russia and discourage nations from maintaining energy trade with Moscow.

The bill must still clear both chambers of Congress before reaching the President's desk, leaving its future uncertain. However, its introduction signals growing bipartisan support in Washington for using trade measures to reshape global energy relationships amid the continuing conflict in Ukraine.