WASHINGTON, DC (HRNW) – President Donald Trump has officially endorsed a bipartisan Senate bill that proposes a staggering 500% tariff on nations continuing to purchase Russian oil, gas, and uranium. The “Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025,” introduced by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, specifically targets Moscow’s key trade partners, including India, China, and Brazil, in an effort to “cripple Putin’s war machine.”
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham confirmed on Thursday, January 8, 2026, that President Trump “greenlit” the legislation following a productive meeting. Graham stated that the bill provides the President with “tremendous leverage” to incentivize these nations to cease energy trade with Russia, which Washington views as the primary source of funding for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The bill would empower the administration to automatically trigger these 500% duties on all goods and services from the offending countries—a move that could effectively price Indian textiles, pharmaceuticals, and IT services out of the American market.
Currently, India is already facing a 50% tariff on many of its exports to the U.S., which includes a 25% penalty specifically linked to its Russian oil purchases. While Indian officials have noted a substantial reduction in Russian imports in recent months to appease Washington, the new bill raises the stakes to an unprecedented level. A bipartisan vote on the legislation is expected in the Senate as early as next week.
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