Bill to Impose 100% Secondary Tariffs on Russian Oil and Gas Buyers Gains Enough Senate Support
A bipartisan bill authored by the late Senator Lindsey Graham to impose 100% secondary tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas has secured at least 61 co-sponsors, enough for Senate passage.
Sanctions Bill Crosses Key Threshold in U.S. Senate
According to Axios, a bill to strengthen sanctions against Russia, authored by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, has garnered at least 61 co-sponsors — 39 Republicans and 22 Democrats. This surpasses the 60-vote threshold needed to advance the legislation in the Senate.
The bill would impose 100% secondary tariffs on countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas, targeting Russia's energy revenue.
On Thursday, Republican leadership initiated a so-called "hotline" procedure — an informal poll of Republican senators to check for objections to bringing the bill to a vote. This indicates an intention to fast-track the measure.
The updated bill is being advanced in the Senate by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal. After Senate approval, the bill must also pass the House of Representatives.
Earlier reports indicated that President Donald Trump is ready to support the bipartisan sanctions bill.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican from South Carolina, died on Saturday, July 11. On July 10, he was on a visit to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with his House colleague, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Emeritus Michael McCaul. On July 10, Graham announced that an agreement had been reached with the White House on a version of the sanctions bill.
