White House Signals Support for New Sanctions
Washington, January 8 — US Senator Lindsey Graham said President Donald Trump has “greenlit” a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting buyers of Russian oil. The proposal is formally known as the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025. Under the plan, the US could impose tariffs of up to 500%. These penalties would apply to countries trading in Russian petroleum, gas and uranium. As a result, the Trump India Russia tariff debate has gained global attention amid the ongoing Ukraine war.
What the Proposed Legislation Seeks to Do
According to Graham, the bill would give President Trump broad powers. Specifically, it would allow him to “punish countries” buying cheap Russian oil. During a recent meeting, Graham said Trump approved the legislation. He described the talks as productive. Moreover, the bill has been under preparation for several months. If momentum continues, Congress could vote on it as early as next week.
Trump India Russia tariff Proposal Targets Oil Trade
In addition, Graham said the legislation would create leverage over major Russian oil buyers. Notably, he named India, China and Brazil. According to the senator, discounted oil revenue continues to fund Russia’s military operations. Therefore, the Trump India Russia tariff strategy aims to cut off that income. The bill also allows secondary sanctions. As a consequence, companies involved in transporting or trading Russian exports could face penalties.
Trump India Russia tariff Push Grows Despite Peace Efforts
Previously, the sanctions bill faced delays in Congress. At that time, President Trump preferred diplomacy over sweeping penalties. However, fighting has continued with limited progress toward peace. Because of this, support for tougher economic action has increased. Still, the bill must clear both chambers of Congress. If approved, it could strain trade ties with India and other buyers of Russian oil. Meanwhile, the administration says diplomatic efforts to end the war will continue.
