US Senate approves bill allowing 100 per cent tariffs on India, China over Russian oil imports

The Lindsay O Graham Sanctioning Russia Act was approved by the Senate by an 86-11 vote. PIC/ISTOCK

The US Senate has approved a bill that will allow President Donald Trump to impose 100 per cent tariffs on the world's top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China. The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, named in honour of Republican senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11, was approved by the Senate by an 86-11 vote. Graham had strongly advocated for new sanctions against Russia for launching the Ukraine war, now in its fifth year.

Republican Senator Lindsay Graham

His sister, Darline Graham, who succeeded him in the Senate, said the bill "hits (Russian President Vladimir) Putin where it hurts." Democrat Richard Blumenthal, who pressed for the bill's passage along with Graham for over a year, said the people of Ukraine "are not alone". "Today, President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy is watching from Ukraine and Putin is watching from Moscow," he said.

The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for approval when it reconvenes on August 31. The bipartisan package allows the president to impose tariffs on the world's top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China. Besides India and China, Azerbaijan, Hungary, and Slovakia are currently among the top five importers of oil and gas from Russia.

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