<h1>House Committee urges focus on punishing Russia, opposes tariffs on third-party nations under Section 232</h1> A US House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized the imposition of tariffs on a major Asian economy, stating such measures will not deter the Russian president or resolve the conflict in Ukraine. The tariffs, including a 25% levy related to the country's purchase of Russian oil, were announced by the US administration and are set to take effect later in August. US Treasury officials indicated that secondary sanctions could increase if diplomatic efforts with Russia falter, and emphasized the need for allied cooperation in enforcing sanctions. The targeted country's government condemned the tariffs as unjustified and affirmed its commitment to protecting national interests and economic security. The committee urged that focus should instead be on punishing Russia and providing military aid to Ukraine rather than targeting third-party nations engaging in trade with Russia.