US Senator Backs Bill to Sanction China and India Over Russian Oil

US President Donald Trump has expressed support for a bipartisan bill aimed at imposing sanctions on countries that purchase Russian energy exports. The Sanctioning Russia Act, co-drafted by Senator Lindsey Graham and Representative Richard Blumenthal, would grant Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 500 percent on imports from countries engaging in business with Russia’s energy sector.

According to Graham, the bill has been “greenlit” following a meeting between Trump and lawmakers. The legislation aims to deter countries such as China, India, and Brazil from purchasing Russian oil, which is seen as financing Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.

China and India have been major buyers of Russia’s oil exports, despite US and European sanctions imposed on the Russian energy sector. In November, China purchased nearly half of Russia’s crude oil exports, while India took about 38 percent. Brazil has also increased its purchase of subsidized Russian oil since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Trump administration has recently given its backing to European proposals for binding security guarantees for Ukraine, including post-war truce monitoring and a European-led multinational force. Russia has expressed opposition to such measures, but the bill’s supporters argue it is timely given the current situation in Ukraine.

Senator Graham stated that the legislation would provide President Trump with “tremendous leverage” against countries purchasing Russian oil, aiming to incentivize them to stop doing so. The bill is set to be debated further by lawmakers.

Source: Al Jazeera