Big Trouble for India as Trump plans to impose 500 percent tariffs due to…, new bill likely to…, PM Modi now plans…
New Delhi: In a major development that could reshape US trade relations with major global allies, US President Donald Trump has pushed for a Senate bill that would impose 500 percent tariffs on countries continuing economic ties with Russia—including India and China. The latest development was confirmed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in an interview with ABC News.
“Big breakthrough here. So what does this bill do? If you’re buying products from Russia and you’re not helping Ukraine, then there’s a 500 percent tariff on your products coming into the United States. India and China buy 70 percent of Putin’s oil. They keep his war machine going,” Graham told ABC News.
It is important to note that the proposed legislation, which Graham is co-sponsoring with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, is part of a broader US push to cripple Russia’s wartime economy and force it to the negotiating table over Ukraine. As per Graham, 84 senators have now signed on, marking one of the most bipartisan efforts to tighten sanctions since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
According to Graham, the green light from Trump came during a recent golf outing.
“My bill has 84 co-sponsors. It would allow the president to put tariffs on China, India, and other countries to stop them from supporting Vladimir Putin’s war machine and get him to the table. For the first time yesterday, the president told me … I was playing golf with him. He says, ‘It’s time to move your bill.'”
Massive Trouble for India And China
The bill, if gets passed, will create a massive trouble for India and China, the two largest buyers of discounted Russian crude. Notably, both nations have continued importing Russian oil and helping Moscow keep its economy afloat and fund its military operations.
While India insists its trade is legal and aligned with its energy security interests, this legislation could put New Delhi in the direct line of US trade fire, risking tariffs on exports ranging from pharmaceuticals and textiles to IT services and automotive components.
All You Need To Know about The Bill
The bill, first introduced in March, encountered delays due to internal resistance within the White House. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration initially attempted to “quietly pressure” Graham to soften the bill’s language—specifically by replacing the word “shall” with “may” to make enforcement discretionary instead of mandatory.
Further reflecting internal divisions, Graham himself recently offered a carve-out in the bill for countries that support Ukraine, in what appears to be a move to soften European concerns.
“We are going to give President Trump a tool in the toolbox,” Graham said, defending the latest compromise. He reiterated that Trump told him, “It’s time to move your bill.”
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