US imposes ‘hellish’ sanctions: Russia prepares response: Putin’s decision could change everything

The new law, known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, provides for the possibility of imposing tariffs of up to 100% for countries that are among the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas or help circumvent sanctions restrictions. At the same time, the document allows to set duties of up to 500% on certain goods of Russian origin imported into the United States.

At the same time, the very fact of the adoption of the law does not mean the automatic introduction of maximum rates. Trump has gained considerable leeway in determining which countries and goods will be affected by future decisions, creating further uncertainty for international trade.

Particular attention is paid to countries that continue to purchase Russian energy resources. In theory, the new tariffs could affect the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas if the US administration decides to use the appropriate mechanism.

For Russia, the importance of this direction is related to the role of energy exports in international trade. But the consequences of sanctions depend not only on U.S. decisions, but also on buyers’ ability to restructure supply routes, find alternative sources, and adapt to new financial and insurance constraints.

In addition, severe tariffs can affect not only the immediate target of sanctions. If the restrictions apply to major trading powers that continue to buy Russian raw materials, they could affect supply chains, energy costs, and U.S. relations with its own trading partners.

This is where the debate around the new law comes in. The document leaves the president considerable room to choose potential targets, and critics in the United States warned of the risk of using the new powers not only against Russia but also against American allies.

The Guardian also noted that the legislation gives Trump the opportunity to apply increased tariffs against countries buying Russian energy resources. The question remains how actively the White House will use the powers granted in practice.

Therefore, now it is more correct to talk not about the introduction of duties in the maximum amount, but about the creation of a legal mechanism for their possible application. The actual economic impact will depend on what decisions the US administration makes and which countries will be subject to new restrictions.

The Kremlin has already stated that increased sanctions pressure does not help improve relations between Russia and the United States. The Russian side also links economic restrictions with the prospects for negotiations on the Ukrainian conflict.

At the same time, the new US law retains the ability to terminate or suspend certain restrictions if certain conditions are met. This means that the sanctions mechanism is both an instrument of pressure and a potential element of future negotiations.

A separate question is the reaction of the largest buyers of Russian oil. China and India remain important destinations for Russian energy exports, so the possible application of US secondary tariffs to these countries could go far beyond the bilateral relationship between Moscow and Washington.

For the US, it also means taking into account its own economic interests. Pressure on major trading powers could affect not only Russian exports, but also American companies, consumers and international supply chains.

In addition, the sanctions policy is developing against the background of an unstable situation on the global energy market. Reuters separately noted the impact of refining disruptions and rising diesel prices on the U.S. economy, making the effects of the new restrictions particularly sensitive.

Now the focus is on how exactly the Trump administration will dispose of the powers it receives. Maximum tariffs remain a legal option, but their actual imposition will require separate policy decisions.