Why Biden’s Farewell Russian Oil Sanctions Are a Big Deal (1)

The US on Friday announced the most sweeping and aggressive sanctions yet on Russia’s oil trade, just ten days before Joe Biden leaves the White House to be replaced by Donald Trump as president.

About 160 oil tankers were sanctioned and India — a key buyer of seaborne barrels — won’t permit the ships into its ports once a wind-down period ends in March.

If they stay in place under Trump, the measures have more chance of disrupting Russia’s exports of petroleum than anything done by any western power so far.

As well as the tankers, two large producers and ...