The U.S. Senate is reviewing a proposed law that would impose tariffs of at least 500% on all goods from countries that continue to purchase Russian energy.
The document, titled the “Russia Sanctions Act of 2025”, aims to completely cut off revenues that fund Russian state policy and its military sector.
According to the bill, the United States intends to impose sanctions and other measures on the Russian Federation if its government “refuses to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine, violates such an agreement, or launches a new military invasion.”
The text emphasizes that, to prevent another military invasion, U.S. policy should ensure “sustainable levels of security assistance to Ukraine for credible defensive capability.”
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Impact on Serbia
A key section of the bill addresses economic consequences for third countries.
It proposes that the tariff rate on all goods or services imported into the United States from a country that knowingly purchases Russian energy resources be raised to a level “not less than the equivalent of five hundred percent ad valorem.” For reference, ad valorem means “based on the value of the goods,” so an item costing $100 would cost $600 if the 500% rate is applied.
The bill specifies that these measures apply to “any country” that knowingly sells, supplies, transfers, or purchases oil, uranium, natural gas, or petrochemical products originating from the Russian Federation.
Although Serbia is not mentioned by name, it could fall under the new tariff rate as it continues to import Russian natural gas. Serbia remains fully dependent on Russian gas and has made little progress in diversifying its supply sources since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The country imports roughly 3 billion cubic meters of gas annually.
Ahead of the New Year holidays, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that the gas arrangement with Russia had been extended until March of this year.
After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 7, 2026
This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace…
Vote could come as early as next week
Senator Lindsey Graham announced last night on X that following a highly productive meeting with President Trump on various issues, he received the green light to move forward with this bipartisan bill, which he has been working on for months alongside Senator Richard Blumenthal (D) and several others.
Graham emphasized that the legislation would allow President Trump to punish countries that purchase cheap Russian oil, thereby fueling “Putin’s war machine.”
He added that the law would give the president significant leverage over countries like China, India, and Brazil to encourage them to stop buying energy that finances the conflict. The senator expressed optimism about strong bipartisan support and hopes the vote will take place “as early as next week.”
Tariff exemptions and technology restrictions
According to the bill, the U.S. president has the authority to temporarily postpone the implementation of these measures.
The president may delay application for up to 180 days if he determines that such an exemption is “in the national security interest of the United States.”
In addition to tariffs, the bill provides measures against any foreign person whom the president determines is knowingly supplying goods, services, technology, or information that facilitates the “maintenance or expansion of oil and gas production.”
Financial provisions include orders to “block and prohibit all transactions in property and property interests” of sanctioned persons, while international financial messaging systems face potential penalties if they do not sever ties with the Russian banking sector.
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Source: Nedeljnik; Foto: Pexels