Washington: A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced a new legislative proposal that could impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from India, China and three other countries over their continued purchases of Russian oil, as Washington intensifies efforts to curb Moscow’s energy revenues amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
The proposed measure identifies India, China, Hungary, Slovakia and Azerbaijan as the five largest importers of Russian crude oil. According to the lawmakers behind the Bill, these nations have continued to buy significant volumes of Russian oil despite international efforts to isolate Moscow economically.
While the legislation targets these five countries, it excludes 15 European nations that still import Russian natural gas. The sponsors argue that those countries rely on comparatively smaller volumes of Russian energy and have been gradually reducing their dependence on Moscow.
The Bill has been introduced by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal and was among the final major legislative initiatives backed by late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Blumenthal said the proposal had received support from the White House before Graham’s passing and urged Congress to move quickly on the legislation.
Describing the proposal as more comprehensive than a standard tariff measure, Blumenthal said it would also introduce sweeping sanctions against key sectors of the Russian economy, including the energy, banking and defence industries. The legislation further calls for sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, prominent business leaders and other influential figures linked to the Kremlin.
Lawmakers said the tariff provision has been specifically designed to focus on the five largest buyers of Russian oil. The exact tariff level, which could range from zero to 100 per cent, would be determined based on its effectiveness in discouraging continued imports of Russian energy.
The proposal comes as the United States seeks to strengthen economic pressure on Russia by limiting the revenues generated through its energy exports, which American lawmakers argue remain a crucial source of funding for Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.
Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, India has substantially increased its purchases of discounted Russian crude, citing the need to secure affordable energy supplies for its growing economy. New Delhi has consistently maintained that its energy procurement decisions are guided by national interest, market dynamics and domestic energy security.
India has also reiterated that it does not recognise unilateral sanctions that are not authorised by the United Nations, maintaining that its trade policies are based on sovereign economic priorities.
The proposed legislation must be approved by both the US Senate and the House of Representatives before it can become law. Its future remains uncertain, with no indication yet of whether it will secure the necessary congressional support in its current form.
