The U.S. Senate has advanced a bipartisan bill that would impose sweeping new sanctions on Russia and authorize 100 per cent tariffs on countries, including India and China, that continue purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium and other strategic commodities.
The legislation is designed to increase economic pressure on Moscow by targeting nations that help sustain Russia’s energy revenues. Supporters say the measure aims to discourage continued trade with Russia as the war in Ukraine continues.
If passed by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump, the bill would allow the United States to levy 100 per cent tariffs on imports from countries found to be significantly supporting Russia’s energy sector.
India, one of Russia’s largest buyers of discounted crude oil since the start of the Ukraine war, is among the countries that could be affected. China is also a major purchaser of Russian energy exports.
The bill has cleared a key procedural step in the Senate but has not yet become law. It must still pass both the Senate and the House of Representatives before being sent to the president for approval.
The proposed legislation has raised concerns about its potential impact on global trade, energy markets and U.S. relations with major trading partners, particularly India, which has maintained that its energy purchases are driven by national interests and energy security.
