WASHINGTON: US Senators backed by President Donald Trump have proposed imposing tariffs of up to 100 percent on India over its continued purchase of crude oil from Russia.
The proposal was unveiled during a press briefing in Washington focused on measures to increase pressure on Russia through economic sanctions.
According to the senators, the proposed tariffs would be highly targeted and would apply only to the five major countries that are among the largest buyers of Russian oil.
The countries named in the proposal include China, India, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan. Under the proposed legislation, the US administration would have limited authority to grant exemptions under specific and narrowly defined circumstances.
The proposed bill also includes exemptions related to Russian gas purchases for countries that import less than 15 percent of their overall gas supplies from Russia and are taking concrete steps to reduce their dependence.
The senators said the flexibility was intended to ensure that US European allies are not unfairly affected by the proposed economic measures.
The proposal comes as Washington continues efforts to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions and trade restrictions linked to its energy revenues.
