A bipartisan coalition of U.S. senators has formally introduced legislation granting President Donald Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas, marking a dramatic escalation in economic pressure against Moscow more than four years into its invasion of Ukraine. The bill, unveiled Tuesday on Capitol Hill and dubbed the "Lindsey Graham Russia Accountability Bill" after its late chief sponsor, targets China, India, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan. White House endorsement has cleared the path for Senate action within 30 days, according to Majority Leader John Thune, as Beijing responds with threats of retaliatory measures.

The legislative framework

The revised sanctions bill authorizes Trump to set tariff rates on goods imported from nations identified as the top buyers of Russian crude and natural gas. Unlike earlier drafts that envisioned rates up to 500%, the current version caps tariffs at 100%, with the U.S. Trade Representative determining precise levels. Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said the rate would be set high enough to strongly discourage continued purchases from Russia.

The legislation includes waiver authority and congressional reporting requirements if tariffs are later reduced. A critical carve-out exempts European allies importing less than 15% of their gas from Russia if they are already reducing purchases, shielding most NATO partners from immediate impact.

Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, secured a separate provision targeting Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers used to evade existing oil price caps and export restrictions.

Historical context and strategic significance

The proposed secondary tariffs represent a fundamental shift in U.S. economic statecraft. Previous sanctions regimes focused on direct restrictions against Russia; this bill targets the sovereign nations enabling Moscow's continued energy revenue.

China has emerged as Russia's primary economic lifeline during the war, purchasing discounted crude at levels that analysts say directly fund Putin's military campaign. Beijing's large-scale energy imports have helped stabilize the Russian economy despite Western sanctions. India similarly surged purchases of Russian crude to a record high in June, buying EUR 4.5 billion worth and accounting for 83% of its total Russian fossil fuel imports.

The legislation comes less than two months after Washington and Beijing signed a trade framework designed to ease tariff tensions. During the previous trade dispute, the U.S. imposed duties up to 145% on Chinese imports, while Beijing retaliated with tariffs up to 125% on American goods and restricted rare earth mineral exports critical to U.S. defense industries.