In a joint statement, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick announced they will move forward with legislation to authorize President Donald Trump to impose major tariffs on countries, including China, India, and Brazil, that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas. Their statement, released on Saturday, directly supports Trump’s recent call for a coordinated economic front against nations he accuses of “propping up Putin’s war machine.”
Graham and Fitzpatrick stated they were “very pleased” with President Trump’s strong call for economic action and confirmed they have been working on the legislation for months. The proposed bill, known as the “Sanctioning Russia Act,” would grant the president the authority to “levy significant tariffs” on countries that continue to finance Russia’s war in Ukraine. The lawmakers believe this is the “right approach to bring maximum economic pressure to bear.”
The statement comes after Trump directly appealed to NATO members this week, urging them to stop buying Russian oil and gas and agree to coordinated sanctions. Trump has repeatedly criticized some NATO members for their continued energy imports from Russia, calling it “shocking” and arguing that it weakens the alliance’s negotiating power. He also threatened tariffs of 50-100% on China, stating that such measures would “break that grip” that China holds over Russia’s economy.
Graham and Fitzpatrick said they would push their colleagues in Congress, on both sides of the aisle, to attach the proposed legislation to the upcoming Continuing Resolution (CR), a must-pass bill to fund the government. They called the move a “test of resolve” for America and its allies, stating, “The free world must act, and America must lead.”
In a separate interview with Fox News, President Trump reiterated that his patience with Moscow was “running out fast” and that the United States was prepared to move to a “second phase” of sanctions if the war continues. The legislation backed by Graham and Fitzpatrick is seen as a bipartisan effort to give the President the tools to follow through on that threat.