THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
The US is threatening 100% tariffs (heavy import taxes) on countries buying Russian energy. While the goal is to squeeze Russia’s economy, the way the law is written is highly unfair. It lets European allies off the hook while using “bullying” tactics against developing nations like India.
1. The Loophole for Europe
The law includes a 15% rule: if a country imports less than 15% of Russia’s total energy exports, they do not get penalized.
This rule acts as a shield for Europe. Wealthy European nations can continue buying millions of dollars of Russian gas to heat their homes, completely tax-free. Meanwhile, developing nations that rely on Russian oil to survive get threatened with massive penalties.
2. Bullying the Global South
For a country like India, cheap Russian oil is not a luxury, it is a necessity to keep fuel and food prices affordable for 1.4 billion people.
(1) The US has been highly inconsistent:
In March 2026: The US actively encouraged India to buy Russian oil to keep global energy prices from spiking during a Middle East crisis.
(2) In July 2026: The US threatened India with a 100% tariff for doing the exact same thing.
Using massive trade penalties to force sovereign nations to choose between economic ruin or political obedience is a classic bullying tactic.
Conclusion
The “Sanctioning Russia Act” exposes a major double standard. By protecting Europe with clever legal loopholes while threatening nations like India, the US is trying to force its own geopolitical rules on the rest of the world. Ultimately, this heavy-handed approach is likely to backfire, pushing countries to trade outside of the US financial system entirely.
References
1.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-sanctions-tariff-bill-lindsey-graham/?hl=en
2.https://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/americas/us-new-russia-sanctions-bill-names-india-as-tariff-target-1971004?hl=en
3.https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/us-russia-sanctions-bill-cuts-india-china-tariff-threat-from-500-to-100/articleshow/132404805.cms?hl=en
