US says Europe refused to join push for tariffs on India, China over Russian oil

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European Response to US Request":"Scott Bessent, US treasury secretary, accused European allies of refusing to join the US in imposing secondary tariffs on India and China for purchasing Russian oil. He stated that the Trump administration had approached European allies in the spring to seek coordinated action against countries buying Russian energy. Bessent emphasized that the US wanted to end the Russia-Ukraine war and that President Trump wanted to end the killing. He also mentioned that the administration had not lifted sanctions on Russia and had imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, the two largest Russian energy companies.","

US's Sanctions Legislation":"The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 provides for tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods imported into the United States from countries that are among the largest buyers of Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas, including India and China. Bessent defended the administration's decision to temporarily waive certain provisions of the legislation, stating that the administration needed time to evaluate the situation before deciding on further measures.","

Criticism of European Countries":"Scott Bessent criticized European countries for continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas while supporting Ukraine. He pointed out that 140 cargoes had left Russia's Yamal facility during the first six months of the year, with 136 going to European countries, including Belgium, Spain, France, and the Netherlands. He also questioned why similar criticism had not been directed at other countries, such as the UK, which had waived its embargo on diesel and jet fuel made using Russian crude."}