Trump Signals Support for Plan Imposing Tariffs Up to 500% on Russia’s Trading Partners

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he is prepared to support proposed Senate legislation that would authorize Washington to impose tariffs as high as 500% on countries continuing to conduct business with Moscow. The move significantly escalates the US campaign to restrict Russia’s wartime revenue and applies new economic pressure on major energy buyers.

“The Republicans are putting in legislation that is very tough sanctioning, etcetera, on any country doing business with Russia,” Trump told reporters before departing Florida for the White House. The proposal, long backed by Senator Lindsey Graham, has gained traction as bipartisan frustration grows over Russia’s continued military aggression in Ukraine.

In October, Senate Majority Whip John Thune said he was willing to bring the legislation to the floor but added that he did not “want to commit to a hard deadline,” signaling ongoing negotiations within the chamber.

Bill Seeks to Pressure Major Buyers of Russian Oil and Gas

According to a Bloomberg report, the legislation would enable the White House to levy tariffs of up to 500% on imports from countries that purchase Russian oil or gas and are deemed insufficiently supportive of Ukraine. China and India—two of Moscow’s largest energy customers—are the primary targets of this provision.

Trump also suggested the potential inclusion of Iran in future measures, stating, “We may add Iran to that,” though he provided no additional details.

The bill advances at a critical moment, with Russia intensifying its offensive to capture the strategic railway hub of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine and continuing widespread aerial attacks. At the same time, Ukraine has expanded long-range strikes on Russian oil facilities in an attempt to weaken Moscow’s supply chain.

For months, Democrats and several Republicans have pushed for tougher punitive steps, accusing Russia of prolonging the conflict and refusing diplomatic options. Trump had previously voiced reluctance to introduce fresh sanctions, arguing that excessive pressure could hinder efforts to bring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir putin to the negotiating table. His earlier attempt to initiate talks by hosting Putin in Alaska brought no breakthrough.

US Tariffs on India

India has already been affected by Washington’s tariff actions due to its continued import of Russian crude. In August 2025, Trump signed an executive order that effectively doubled tariffs on Indian exports to 50%—adding a 25% “Russian oil” penalty on top of the existing 25% reciprocal tax. Washington described the tariff hike as a measure to penalize countries that “indirectly fund Russia’s war machine.”

Following the imposition of higher duties, India signaled its intention to reduce its intake of Russian oil. In October, Trump noted that New Delhi had “significantly reduced” its purchases and hinted at a possible rollback of tariffs. “We’ll bring the tariffs down at some point,” he said.

After months of strain and unproductive negotiations, Washington appears to be shifting away from its earlier confrontational approach on India’s energy imports. The latest signals suggest a growing US interest in stabilizing trade relations with New Delhi.

Despite sweeping sanctions from the US and Europe, Russia has continued to sustain large-scale military operations. Western intelligence agencies report that Moscow has offset losses by deepening energy cooperation with Asian economies, thereby reducing the overall impact of Western economic penalties.