A bipartisan coalition of U.S. Senators has unveiled a major legislative bill designed to impose punitive 100% tariffs on five nations, including India and China, for their continued purchases of Russian oil. The draft legislation, which represents a highly aggressive use of trade policy as a geopolitical tool, also targets Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan. Brokered in large part by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away just days prior, the bill is being presented by lawmakers as a ultimate tribute to his foreign policy legacy and a “sledgehammer” meant to dry up funding for Russia’s military campaign.
While the bill is framed around tariffs, lawmakers note it acts as a comprehensive package of secondary sanctions. According to Senator Richard Blumenthal, the legislation is narrowly tailored to target the five largest global purchasers of Russian oil, allowing the administration constricted waiver authority while completely exempting fifteen European allies who rely minimally on Russian gas and are actively phasing it out. If passed, the measure would mark the first time the U.S. Congress has explicitly authorized secondary tariffs to directly penalize third-party nations for importing energy from a sanctioned state. Supporters on Capitol Hill are urging swift passage to shut down foreign revenue streams currently propping up Moscow’s economy.
