. TOI correspondent from Washington: With no end in sight for Washington’s tariff tangle with India, more trouble appears to be looming for New Delhi after US President Donald Trump green-lit Wednesday a sweeping bipartisan legislation that will authorise him to slap primary and secondary sanctions as well as punitive tariffs up to 500% on Moscow and countries that still buy oil from Russia.The proposed Sanctioning Russia Act, simply called the Graham-Blumenthal Bill after the senators sponsoring it, would significantly raise pressure on Russia and countries such as China, India and Brazil, all part of Brics, which have so far withstood current US sanctions and tariffs. 500% Tariff Shock? Trump Okays ‘Graham-Blumenthal Bill’, Clashes With China Amid Tensions By legislatively empowering Trump beyond his current executive authority, lawmakers, in conjunction with White House, are also trying to get ahead of a US Supreme Court ruling in the tariff case – likely this month – that is widely expected to go against the administration.”This bill will allow President Trump to punish countries who buy cheap Russian oil fuelling Putin’s war machine… give him tremendous leverage against… China, India and Brazil to incentivise them to stop buying the oil that provides finance for Putin’s bloodbath against Ukraine,” Senator Lindsey Graham posted on X after a meeting where he said Trump green-lit passage of the legislation.Sanctions bill has significant bipartisan backing in CongressGraham said there could be “a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week”. The legislation grew out of mounting frustration in the White House and Congress that existing sanctions have failed to change the Kremlin’s behaviour.Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, long among the Senate’s most outspoken advocates for Ukraine, argue that Russia has adapted to earlier measures by rerouting energy exports to willing buyers at discounted prices. By targeting those buyers directly with even higher tariffs and sanctions, they say, Washington can close the loopholes that have allowed Moscow to keep financing its war.The bill enjoys significant bipartisan backing in Congress. Introduced in Sept 2025, it advanced through the senate foreign relations committee in Oct 2025 by a strong vote, signalling broad consensus. By Dec, with 85 co-sponsors in the Senate alone, it spurred companion legislation in the House even as the Trump tariffs, imposed through executive power, were challenged and rejected in lower courts before the matter reached the Supreme Court.Trump, who was initially reluctant to back the legislation, believing he had enough executive authority, appears to have changed course after the judicial setbacks. In comments during a golf outing with Graham in late 2025, he had expressed support for tougher sanctions but urged caution to avoid derailing negotiations with Putin. He reportedly insisted on reviewing the final text of the legislation, emphasising that it should not “tank the global economy” while targeting Russia’s oil revenues.Trump’s endorsement marks a shift from earlier ambivalence, where he prioritised diplomacy over escalation. While concerns remain about potential economic fallout of the legislation on the US itself, including solidifying the Brics bloc and accelerating its de-dollarisation efforts, the momentum behind the bill reflects a rare convergence of Republican and Democratic views on Russia.About the AuthorChidanand RajghattaRajghatta is author of Kamala Harris: Phenomenal WomanEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Targets Mamata Banerjee Over ED Raid At I-PAC, Alleges Evidence TamperingFrom Op Sindoor To Venezuela: How Chinese Air Defence And Radar Systems Continue To Fail NationsDipu Das Lynching: Bangladesh Police Arrest Man Who Incited Mob As Attacks Against Hindus ContinueFrance Ditches Global South, Collective West As Jaishankar Warns Europe Of Changing World Order’Naughty, Nasty HM’: Mamata Slams Amit Shah After ED Raids TMC Leader Amid SIR RowPM Modi Launches ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’, Recalls Centuries-Old Resolve Behind Temple’s Revival“US Using Tariffs To Pressure India” Sareen Slams Trump Over Russia Sanction BillDonald Trump Pulls US Out Of India-Led Solar Alliance In Sweeping Exit From 66 Global AgenciesNew CCTV Footage Raises Questions Over Planning Behind Turkman Gate Clashes During Midnight DriveMinor Shooter Accuses National Coach Of Sexual Assault, NRAI Suspends Him Pending Police Inquiry123PhotostoriesFarhan Akhtar birthday special: ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ ,‘Rock On!!’ to ‘Toofaan’, 5 inspiring films to stream on OTTFrom Nayanthara to Sai Pallavi: Kasavu saree inspiration from South Indian actresses for Pongal 2026How to deal with difficult people without losing your cool: 5 effective psychology-based tipsBirthday Special: Farhan Akhtar’s movies to watch on OTTFarhan Akhtar’s social media moments with wife and kids10 smart and comforting sooji dishes to enjoy for breakfastExclusive: Viraj Bahl on the public admiration he’s been getting due to Shark Tank India; says ‘I still feel embarrassed when people ask me for selfies’‘Toxic’: Kiara Advani, Nayanthara to Rukmini Vasanth: Meet the leading ladies of Yash’s highly anticipated comeback filmHow to make comforting Gajar Matar Ki Sabzi at home10 most democratic countries in the world123Hot PicksMinneapolis Woman ShootMaharashtra civic pollsGold rate todayUAE citizenshipCigarette price hikePublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingCandace OwensTommy Fleetwood and Clare Fleetwood Net WorthTravis KelceBrandon TatumQuinn HutsonRic Flair Net Worth in 2025Rashee RiceMarshon Lattimore ArrestAnthony EdwardsStefon Diggs
TOI correspondent from Washington: With no end in sight for Washington’s tariff tangle with India, more trouble appears to be looming for New Delhi after US President Donald Trump green-lit Wednesday a sweeping bipartisan legislation that will authorise him to slap primary and secondary sanctions as well as punitive tariffs up to 500% on Moscow and countries that still buy oil from Russia.The proposed Sanctioning Russia Act, simply called the Graham-Blumenthal Bill after the senators sponsoring it, would significantly raise pressure on Russia and countries such as China, India and Brazil, all part of Brics, which have so far withstood current US sanctions and tariffs.
By legislatively empowering Trump beyond his current executive authority, lawmakers, in conjunction with White House, are also trying to get ahead of a US Supreme Court ruling in the tariff case – likely this month – that is widely expected to go against the administration.“This bill will allow President Trump to punish countries who buy cheap Russian oil fuelling Putin’s war machine… give him tremendous leverage against… China, India and Brazil to incentivise them to stop buying the oil that provides finance for Putin’s bloodbath against Ukraine,” Senator Lindsey Graham posted on X after a meeting where he said Trump green-lit passage of the legislation.Sanctions bill has significant bipartisan backing in CongressGraham said there could be “a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week”. The legislation grew out of mounting frustration in the White House and Congress that existing sanctions have failed to change the Kremlin’s behaviour.Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, long among the Senate’s most outspoken advocates for Ukraine, argue that Russia has adapted to earlier measures by rerouting energy exports to willing buyers at discounted prices. By targeting those buyers directly with even higher tariffs and sanctions, they say, Washington can close the loopholes that have allowed Moscow to keep financing its war.The bill enjoys significant bipartisan backing in Congress. Introduced in Sept 2025, it advanced through the senate foreign relations committee in Oct 2025 by a strong vote, signalling broad consensus. By Dec, with 85 co-sponsors in the Senate alone, it spurred companion legislation in the House even as the Trump tariffs, imposed through executive power, were challenged and rejected in lower courts before the matter reached the Supreme Court.Trump, who was initially reluctant to back the legislation, believing he had enough executive authority, appears to have changed course after the judicial setbacks. In comments during a golf outing with Graham in late 2025, he had expressed support for tougher sanctions but urged caution to avoid derailing negotiations with Putin. He reportedly insisted on reviewing the final text of the legislation, emphasising that it should not “tank the global economy” while targeting Russia’s oil revenues.Trump’s endorsement marks a shift from earlier ambivalence, where he prioritised diplomacy over escalation. While concerns remain about potential economic fallout of the legislation on the US itself, including solidifying the Brics bloc and accelerating its de-dollarisation efforts, the momentum behind the bill reflects a rare convergence of Republican and Democratic views on Russia.
