Overview
- Senator Lindsey Graham said President Trump has greenlit the Sanctioning of Russia Act and signaled a possible congressional vote as early as next week, with a White House official reportedly confirming support to the AP.
- The bill would require raising U.S. import duties to at least 500% on goods from countries that knowingly trade in Russian-origin petroleum or uranium, with Graham citing China, India and Brazil as likely targets.
- Beyond tariffs, the legislation authorizes visa bans, asset freezes for key Russian individuals, blocking Russian-owned banks and financial institutions that transact with them, and potential restrictions on U.S. energy exports to Russia.
- Passage and implementation remain uncertain as the administration has sought language preserving presidential control, and the measures carry significant trade and diplomatic risks for major buyers of Russian energy.
- The push comes as the U.S. has already imposed about 50% tariffs on Indian goods tied to Russian oil purchases, while Indian officials have rejected claims they assured Washington of cutting those imports.