‘Fueling Putin’s war machine’: Will India, China face tariff heat over Russian oil? US senators call for 500%

Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham (AP photograph)

US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal have warned that international locations like India, China, and Brazil, all members of Brics — may face financial sanctions in the event that they proceed buying and selling with Russia. This comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has introduced that he’ll impose 100% “secondary tariffs” on Russia if President Vladimir Putin doesn’t agree to finish the war in Ukraine inside 50 days.Senators Graham and Blumenthal, who belong to totally different political events, have launched a invoice within the US Congress earlier this yr. It has help from 85 different lawmakers and proposes robust sanctions on Russia. They say the invoice may act as a “sledgehammer” to strain Putin into ending the war.Senator Blumenthal posted on X, “We’ll continue to push for Senator Graham & my Russia Sanctions bill with even tougher penalties to deter India, China, Brazil & others from fueling Putin’s war machine. Congressional action sends a powerful message of support.”According to a joint assertion by the 2 Senators, international locations like India, China, and Brazil are serving to Russia by shopping for low cost oil and fuel, which they consider helps Putin proceed the war. The invoice suggests imposing tariffs as excessive as 500 % on any nation that helps Russia on this method.Trump introduced the thought of secondary tariffs throughout a gathering with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday. Senator Blumenthal praised the transfer, calling it a “breakthrough step” and described Putin as a “thug.”Blumenthal additionally stated on X, “The President’s announcement is a breakthrough step–committing to both substantial military aid & strong sanctions. It recognizes the urgency of showing sledgehammer strength–because peace through strength is the only viable strategy with a thug like Putin.”The joint assertion from Graham and Blumenthal welcomed Trump’s announcement and stated it was a robust step to push for peace talks. It learn, “The ultimate hammer to bring about the end of this war will be tariffs against countries, like China, India and Brazil, that prop up Putin’s war machine by purchasing cheap Russian oil and gas. President Trump’s decision to announce the implementation of 100 percent secondary tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil and gas if a peace agreement is not reached in the next 50 days is a real executive hammer to drive the parties to the negotiating table. The goal is not more tariffs and sanctions – the goal is to entice Putin to come to the peace table.”They additionally added, “Finally, as President Trump indicated, we will join our colleagues in continuing to work with the White House on our bipartisan Russia sanctions legislation that would implement up to 500 percent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil and gas and do not help Ukraine.”During his assembly with the Nato chief, Trump stated, “One of the reasons that you’re here today is to hear that we are very unhappy – I am – with Russia. But we will discuss that maybe another day. But we’re very, very unhappy with them, and we’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days. Tariffs at about 100 percent. You’d call them secondary tariffs. But today, we’re going to talk about something else.“India has responded to those developments. External affairs minister S Jaishankar lately stated that Indian officers have been in touch with Senator Graham relating to the proposed sanctions invoice.Speaking at a press convention, Jaishankar stated, “Regarding Senator Lindsey Graham’s bill, any development which is happening in the US Congress is of interest to us if it impacts our interest or could impact our interest. So we have been in touch with Senator Lindsey Graham. The embassy, ambassador have been in touch. Our concerns and our interests on energy, security have been made conversant to him. So we’ll then have to cross that bridge when we come to it. If we come to it.”