The proposal would empower the US administration to determine tariff rates on selected Russian oil buyers and includes sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector, financial system, defence industry and President Vladimir Putin.
The US Senate has introduced a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could authorise tariffs of up to 500% on countries identified as major buyers of Russian oil, including India. Photo: Reuters via ANI
India has been named among five countries that could face fresh US tariffs under a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill unveiled in the Senate, a proposal that seeks to tighten economic pressure on Moscow while giving the Trump administration new powers to act against major buyers of Russian oil.
The legislation, introduced by a bipartisan group of senators, is yet to clear the Senate and House of Representatives before it can reach President Donald Trump for approval. While the bill authorises tariffs on countries continuing to trade with Russia’s energy sector, lawmakers said the actual tariff rate has not yet been determined.
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The measure was announced on Capitol Hill on Tuesday by Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Jeanne Shaheen, along with Republican Senators Roger Wicker, Katie Britt, and several other lawmakers from both parties.
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According to Senator Blumenthal, the legislation proposes sweeping sanctions on Russia’s economy, including its energy and financial sectors, defence industry, oligarchs, business leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The bill also authorises the administration to impose tariffs on imports from countries identified as the largest buyers of Russian oil. Blumenthal identified China, India, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan as the five countries covered under the provision.
A separate clause addresses purchases of Russian natural gas. However, it exempts countries importing less than 15 per cent of their gas from Russia if they are already reducing those imports.
Lawmakers stressed that the tariff level has not been fixed in the legislation and would instead be determined by the US Trade Representative.
Blumenthal said he expected the rate would be high enough “to discourage strongly China, India, and other major purchasers of Russian oil and gas strongly”.
The legislation also contains waiver provisions and requires the administration to report to Congress if tariffs are reduced in the future.
Senator James Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he had secured an additional provision targeting Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers that authorities say has helped Moscow circumvent existing sanctions.
Several senators described the legislation as the culmination of nearly two years of work led by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who died recently.
Senator Roger Wicker called it “Lindsey Graham’s greatest achievement”.
Senator Ted Cruz said Graham had negotiated the legislation directly with President Trump before his death and urged lawmakers to pass it “overwhelmingly.”
Lawmakers also said the latest version had been significantly narrowed after discussions with the Trump administration. Earlier drafts reportedly covered dozens of countries, but the current proposal focuses on a limited number of major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
They expressed hope that the changes would improve the bill’s chances of winning broader support in Congress.
Earlier, a White House official told ANI that the Trump administration supports the proposed legislation.
Responding to a question on whether India could face penalties over continued purchases of Russian crude, the official said: “President Trump supports the bill.”
According to ANI, the proposal would give Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on imports from countries doing business with Russia’s energy sector.
India has maintained that its purchases of discounted Russian crude are driven by energy security and consumer affordability. New Delhi has also argued that the trade helps stabilise global oil prices.
The legislation must still complete the legislative process in both chambers of the US Congress before it can be sent to President Trump for consideration.
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