US May Impose Up to 500% Tariffs on India, Trump Approves Bill

US President Donald Trump continues to threaten India with more tariffs. In a fresh move, Trump cleared a legislation that would authorize him to levy up to 500 % tariffs on countries knowingly purchasing Russian oil and uranium, and fueling Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war machine. Trump has approved the go ahead for the bipartisan Russia Sanction Bill that could give Washington the authority to penalize Moscow’s trading partners, including India, China and Brazil, as they have been purchasing Russian oil.

In a post on X, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the US President gave approval to a bill that will impose sanctions on countries purchasing Russian uranium, after they held a “productive” meeting on Wednesday. It is likely to be put to a vote next week, he added.

The hard-hitting sanctions package sponsored by Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal is meant to cripple Moscow financially, even as the Trump administration continues to negotiate a deal to end Russia’s war with Ukraine. The Trump administration is in talks to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict which is nearing four years. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are the chief negotiators of the peace deal.

In a statement, Graham said that the bill will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent. The bill allows Trump administration to impose heavy tariffs and secondary sanction up to 500 % on nations purchasing Russia’s crude, gas and other exports. The tariffs are aimed at cutting off the financing for Russia’s military action.

The legislation has several supporters in the Senate and there is a companion bill in the House drafted by Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick.