US Senate votes to impose 100% tariffs on India, 4 other nations for buying Russian oil
New Delhi, Aug 8: The US Senate has approved, with overwhelming support, a bill that enables President Donald Trump to impose 100% tariffs on India and four other countries which purchase Russian oil or natural gas.
The bill, approved by the Senate by an 86-11 vote, singles out India, China, Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia for the sanctions as these are the top five buyers of oil and natural gas from Russia.
It provides exceptions for countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are taking steps to reduce those imports.
The legislation also includes sanctions on Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, Russian financial institutions and Russian energy projects.
The bill has been named in honour of Republican senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Ukraine and a strong advocate of sanctions against Russia, who died on July 11.
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) Zelensky is watching from Ukraine – and Putin is watching from Moscow,” he said.
“I would like to think Lindsey Graham is watching, too,” he said.
“Today we say to the people of Ukraine: You are not alone. And today we say to Vladimir Putin: You will not conquer Ukraine,” he added.
The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for approval when it reconvenes on August 31.
The bill would expand US sanctions to target older, reflagged oil tankers that Moscow uses to circumvent existing American sanctions on Russian oil and energy revenues.
It also allows the White House to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that it’s in the national interest.
In addition to Russia sanctions, the bill would extend till 2031 the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, which penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector. (BVI)
