<h1>US Tariffs on Russian Oil Imports Criticized for Hurting Alliances and US Interests Under Section 301</h1> The imposition of tariffs by the US administration on one country for purchasing Russian oil, while exempting another country with higher Russian energy imports, has been criticized as a strategic misstep. A former senior US official stated that these tariffs may have driven the first country closer to the alliance of the second country and Russia, potentially undermining US interests. The tariffs, set at an additional 25 percent and totaling 50 percent, have not yet taken effect but have already caused significant diplomatic friction. Upcoming high-level visits between these nations and their allies highlight the geopolitical tensions exacerbated by the tariff policy, which was described as lacking careful consideration and potentially resulting in adverse consequences for US foreign relations.