500% Tariff on India? Trump’s bill targets Russian oil buyers to pressure Putin

US President Donald Trump said he is “strongly considering” supporting a proposed sanctions bill that would impose a 500 per cent tariff on countries like India and China that continue purchasing Russian energy products. The move is aimed at pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine by targeting nations whose trade helps fund Russia’s war effort.

The legislation, titled the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, was introduced in April by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and co-sponsored by Democrat Richard Blumenthal.

It proposes a sweeping crackdown on Russia’s global energy trade and includes sanctions on Russian companies, state institutions, and senior officials. The bill’s centrepiece is the punitive tariff on countries importing Russian-origin oil, gas, or uranium.

Trump confirmed he is actively weighing the bill during a Cabinet meeting. “It’s totally my option. They pass it, and I terminate it—totally at my option. And I’m looking at it very strongly,” he said.

Trump has recently expressed increasing frustration with Putin for prolonging the Ukraine conflict. According to the Associated Press, he also instructed the Department of Defence to ramp up defensive weapons deliveries to Ukraine, signalling a harder stance.

Senator Graham, a close Trump ally, called the legislation a “breakthrough” and said Trump had encouraged lawmakers to move forward with it. In a recent interview, Graham said, “If you are buying energy from Russia and not helping Ukraine, your goods will face a 500% tariff coming into the United States.”

In a broader move on trade, Trump also announced new tariffs targeting a wide range of countries. A 35 per cent tariff on Canadian imports will take effect August 1, with the possibility of further increases if Canada retaliates. Additional tariffs were announced on seven other countries, including the Philippines, Moldova, Libya, and Sri Lanka, though none are considered major US trade partners.

If enacted, the sanctions would mark one of the most aggressive US efforts yet to choke off revenue from Russia’s energy exports, and could reshape global trade and diplomatic relations.

– Ends

Tune In