In a recent development, US Senator Lindsey Graham has announced that a sanctions package against Russia, which he is preparing, will include exceptions to the tariffs on countries that support Ukraine. Graham told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that the bill will have carve-outs and that the President will have a degree of control over the sanctions.
The proposed legislation, which Graham claims to have already secured a significant majority of Senate support, envisions tariffs as a coercive tool, imposing a 500% duty on every country that imports Russian energy. However, this could also affect several European countries.
“We want everyone to make a choice between helping Russia on one hand and human decency and access to the US market on the other” Graham said. At the end, there will be exceptions. “Many European countries still do business with Russia – I know that little secret” Graham said. “Those who help Ukraine, though, will get an exemption.”
The final decision on these exceptions is still being worked out, Graham added. “The Brits buy uranium, other countries buy oil and gas, but all these countries have one thing in common – they help Ukraine, maybe with the exception of Hungary.” He further noted, “The Europeans will soon have to think twice about what they do.”
US Senate Majority Leader John Thune has announced that the Senate will begin working on the bill this month and Graham expressed confidence that progress will be made, highlighting his ongoing contact with the White House. The tariffs, Graham emphasized, will primarily hit China. Graham recently met with EU Commission President von der Leyen, German Chancellor Merz and Foreign Minister Wadephul in Berlin, on Monday.