US President Donald Trump has approved a bipartisan sanctions bill that would allow Washington to impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries continuing to purchase Russian oil, gas and uranium, Senator Lindsey Graham said.
BY PC Bureau
January 8, 2026: US President Donald Trump has given his approval to a hardline bipartisan sanctions bill that could allow Washington to impose steep tariffs on countries continuing to trade with Russia, a move that could directly affect major economies such as India, China and Brazil. The development was confirmed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the principal authors of the proposed legislation.
The bill—commonly referred to as the Graham-Blumenthal Russia Sanctions Act—would authorise the US president to impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on nations that knowingly purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium and other strategic exports. Supporters of the legislation argue that such measures are necessary to cut off revenue streams that finance Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military campaign in Ukraine.
According to Graham, he met President Trump at the White House on Wednesday, where the president signalled his support for the sanctions package, which has been under discussion in Congress for several months. A White House official later confirmed Trump’s approval while speaking to the Associated Press, indicating growing alignment between the administration and congressional hawks pushing for tougher action against Moscow.
“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent,” Graham said in a statement, suggesting that increased economic pressure is essential to force meaningful concessions from Russia.
If enacted, the bill would significantly escalate Washington’s use of secondary sanctions, penalising not just Russia but also countries that maintain commercial ties with Moscow. India, China and Brazil—among the largest buyers of discounted Russian crude since the start of the Ukraine war—could face severe trade repercussions if the law is enforced in its strongest form. Analysts warn that such a move could strain US relations with key partners and disrupt global energy markets.
Bill Threatening 500% Tariff On India For Russia Oil Trade Gets Trump’s Nod.
US President Donald Trump has “greenlit” the bipartisan Russia Sanctions Bill, which could be used to penalise Moscow’s trading partners, including India, China and Brazil, over their purchase of… pic.twitter.com/a5sSRu5VkG
— Anish Singh (@anishsingh21) January 8, 2026
The legislation has garnered broad bipartisan support, with dozens of co-sponsors in the Senate, reflecting sustained frustration on Capitol Hill over Russia’s continued military operations despite years of Western sanctions. A companion bill has also been introduced in the House of Representatives by Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, increasing the likelihood of coordinated action across both chambers of Congress.
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However, the timeline for passage remains uncertain. Graham indicated that the Senate could take up the bill as early as next week, though lawmakers are first expected to vote on a scaled-back government funding measure currently under consideration in the House. The Senate is also scheduled to recess the following week to mark Martin Luther King Jr Day, which could delay further debate.
The White House had earlier sought revisions to the bill to ensure greater flexibility for the president in implementing or waiving sanctions as needed. It remains unclear whether those changes have been incorporated into the current version of the legislation.
The sanctions push comes as the Trump administration continues parallel efforts to negotiate an end to the nearly four-year-old war in Ukraine. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, are leading US diplomatic efforts to broker a peace deal, highlighting the administration’s dual-track approach of pursuing negotiations while keeping the threat of intensified economic pressure on the table.
