US President Donald Trump has hinted at backing a fresh sanctions bill aimed at ramping up the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. The new proposed legislation would be called the Sanctioning Russia Act 2025.
The sanction includes a provision that can lead to a 500% tariff on imports from countries that continue to buy Russian energy products. The new provision comes amid Trump’s rising differences with Putin over the prolonged conflict. A previous report had also detailed how the president has permitted the US Department of Defence to supply more defensive weapons to Ukraine.
The sanctions were introduced in April by Senator Lindsey Graham. They propose a range of penalties against countries importing Russian-origin oil, gas, uranium, or petroleum products. Graham has confirmed in an interview that Trump had encouraged lawmakers to advance the new bill.
New Amendments In the Bill
The bill also includes a clause following which the US president can issue a one-time, 180-day waiver to any country citing National security concerns. Lawmakers are also considering amendments to allow for a possible second waiver under specific conditions.
China and India are not the only countries that the US plans to target. On Wednesday, it sent letters to seven smaller trading partners, including the Philippines, Brunei, Moldova, Algeria, Libya, Iraq, and Sri Lanka. The move indicates Trump’s intent to widen his tariff matrix.
Earlier this week, Trump had also announced a 35% tariff on Serbia, putting forth the idea that it was a strategy to use trade pressure to promote peace. He further stated that the tariff rates were based on common sense and trade imbalances.
Beyond these new provisions, Trump has already raised the tariff implications, as it plans to pair them with a steep new levy a 50% tariff on copper imports and another 50% duty on goods from Brazil, both set to take effect on August 1.
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