@Reuteurs
(Washington, D.C.) – President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind new legislation that would dramatically escalate economic pressure on Russia by targeting countries that continue to buy its oil.
The bipartisan bill, now moving through Congress, would require congressional approval to authorize tariffs of up to 500% on imports from nations that knowingly purchase Russian oil, gas, or other key energy products. Supporters say the measure is designed to choke off revenue that helps finance Moscow’s war machine by punishing not just Russia, but its biggest remaining energy customers.
Under the proposal, the United States could levy extreme duties on goods coming from countries such as China or India if they continue importing Russian crude at discounted rates. The tariffs would function as a form of “secondary sanctions,” dramatically raising the economic cost of doing business with Russia even for third-party nations.
The legislation still must pass both chambers of Congress before reaching Trump’s desk. If enacted, it would mark one of the most severe sanctions mechanisms ever considered by the United States, reshaping global energy trade and dramatically escalating pressure on Russia and its economic partners.
