Tariffs – US Senate Bill Proposes Sweeping Duties on Russian Oil Buyers
Tariffs -A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced legislation that would impose steep tariffs on imports from major buyers of Russian oil, including India and China, as part of a broader effort to increase economic pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
Bipartisan proposal targets major Russian oil buyers
A new bill introduced in the US Senate seeks to impose a 100 per cent tariff on imports from five countries identified as leading purchasers of Russian crude oil or key facilitators of sanctions evasion. The countries named in the proposal are India, China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.
The legislation was introduced on Thursday by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal and is dedicated to the memory of late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who had played a leading role in developing the proposal before his death. Lawmakers backing the measure say its primary objective is to reduce the financial resources available to Russia by discouraging continued purchases of its energy exports.
Wider sanctions framework included in the legislation
Beyond the proposed tariffs, the bill outlines mandatory sanctions targeting Russia’s political leadership, financial institutions, energy industry and networks accused of helping bypass existing international sanctions. Supporters argue that these measures are intended to strengthen economic pressure on the Kremlin and limit funding for its military operations in Ukraine.
Under the proposal, the tariff would apply to imports from countries ranked among the world’s five largest buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas. It would also cover countries considered to be among the leading facilitators of efforts to evade sanctions imposed on Russian oil exports.
Regular review mechanism built into the proposal
The legislation directs the Office of the United States Trade Representative to review the list of affected countries every 180 days. During each review, officials would evaluate changes in energy purchasing patterns and could revise both the list of targeted countries and the tariff rates where appropriate.
Supporters of the measure say this review process is intended to ensure that the policy reflects changing market conditions and evolving trade relationships rather than relying on a fixed list of countries.
Certain European countries receive exemptions
The bill includes exemptions for several European nations that continue importing limited quantities of Russian natural gas. According to the proposal, countries whose imports account for less than 15 per cent of Russia’s total gas exports and that are actively reducing their dependence on Russian supplies would not be subject to the tariff provisions.
The legislation also excludes US purchases of Russian uranium required for nuclear reactors and medical isotope production. In addition, activities conducted under existing US-Russia cooperation agreements involving nuclear technology and space programmes would remain unaffected.
Bill renamed in honour of Lindsey Graham
Officially titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, the legislation recognises the late senator’s work on expanding sanctions against Russia. An earlier version of the proposal had suggested imposing tariffs as high as 500 per cent on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, but the current version lowers that figure to 100 per cent.
If approved, the measure would represent the first instance of the US Congress explicitly authorising tariffs as a foreign policy tool to penalise countries viewed as contributing financially to another nation’s war effort.
Family and lawmakers call for passage
Senator Darline Graham, who was appointed to complete Lindsey Graham’s remaining Senate term, urged lawmakers to support the bill. She said her brother remained committed to advancing the Russia sanctions legislation until his final days and described its passage as a way to honour his dedication to US national security. She also stated that the measure would provide President Donald Trump with additional leverage in efforts aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine.
Darline Graham added that she intends to work with fellow senators to secure passage of the legislation before sending it to President Trump’s desk for consideration.
Proposal follows earlier US trade action
The introduction of the bill comes after the United States proposed a separate 12.5 per cent tariff last month on imports from 54 countries, including India. That proposal was linked to concerns that those countries had not adequately prevented the import of goods allegedly produced through forced labour.