Overview
- Senator Lindsey Graham said after meeting the president that the White House has greenlit the bipartisan measure and that a vote could come as soon as next week.
- The bill text circulating in Congress would require raising duties to at least 500% on Russian imports and on countries that knowingly trade in Russian‑origin petroleum or uranium.
- Backers frame the escalation as leverage to cut Moscow’s war financing, explicitly naming India, China and Brazil as targets for potential secondary tariffs.
- India has already been hit with combined duties around 50% tied to Russian energy purchases, and Graham says New Delhi has reduced those buys and sought relief from the extra levies.
- Analysts warn a 500% tariff could effectively shut down U.S.-bound exports from targeted nations, while diplomatic responses and practical implementation remain unresolved.