Washington, September 16, 2026: A US congressional proposal that could give President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil and gas has moved closer to becoming law, raising fresh concerns for India-US trade relations and India’s continued imports of Russian crude.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 cleared a key procedural hurdle in the US House of Representatives after lawmakers voted 214-211 to advance the legislation. Two Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure. The House is now preparing for the legislation’s final vote, after which it could move to President Trump’s desk if approved. The Times of India+1
The development has placed India’s Russian oil purchases at the centre of a wider US effort to increase economic pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
What does the Russia sanctions bill mean for India?
The proposed legislation is primarily designed to strengthen US sanctions against Russia and Iran. However, one of its most consequential provisions would give the US president expanded authority to impose secondary tariffs of as much as 100% on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy.
India is particularly exposed because it has become a major buyer of Russian crude oil. The proposed tariff authority would not automatically impose a 100% tariff on Indian goods simply because the bill becomes law. Instead, it would create a legal mechanism under which the president could impose such duties on countries covered by the legislation. That distinction is important.
A 100% tariff is therefore a potential presidential action, not an automatic consequence of the House vote.
The legislation’s tariff provisions have nevertheless become a major source of concern in New Delhi because tariffs at that level could significantly affect Indian companies exporting goods to the US market.
India specifically named in proposed amendment
The Senate-passed version of the legislation reportedly did not explicitly name individual countries. Instead, it referred to major importers of Russian oil and gas.
During the House consideration, however, lawmakers introduced an amendment that would specifically identify countries potentially subject to the secondary tariff provisions. India and China were among the countries named, alongside Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic.
The proposed amendment has therefore sharpened attention on India’s position.
For Indian exporters, the issue is not simply the direct cost of a tariff. A US tariff of 100% could substantially change the economics of exporting products to the American market, depending on which products and sectors were ultimately covered and how the administration implemented the authority.
Bill targets Russia’s energy and defence sectors
The legislation goes beyond tariffs on Russia’s trading partners. It also seeks to expand sanctions targeting Russia’s leadership, energy industry and defence-related activities.
Another focus is Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — vessels accused of helping transport Russian oil and circumvent existing sanctions. The broader objective is to reduce Moscow’s ability to generate revenue from energy exports and use that revenue to support its war effort.
Reuters reported that the legislation was originally introduced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham in April 2025 and subsequently received strong bipartisan support in the Senate. The Senate approved the measure by a large majority before it moved to the House.
The bill also contains provisions concerning Iran, reflecting the Trump administration’s broader sanctions policy toward Tehran.
Why India’s Russian oil purchases matter
India’s relationship with Russian energy has expanded significantly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian crude has been available to Indian refiners at commercially attractive prices, helping refiners manage energy costs while maintaining supplies.
That trade relationship has simultaneously become a point of friction with Washington.
The proposed US legislation effectively links access to the American market with the purchasing country’s relationship with Russian energy. If the tariff authority were ultimately used against India, the consequences could extend beyond the oil trade itself because the measure would affect Indian exports entering the United States.
The potential impact would therefore depend heavily on how the Trump administration interprets and implements the authority.
House vote is the immediate next step
The House’s procedural vote was a significant step, but it did not itself enact the tariff provisions.
The legislation must first pass the House in final form. If the House approves the Senate legislation without changes that require further congressional action, the bill could then be sent to the White House for presidential consideration.
Recent reporting indicates that the legislation has attracted opposition from lawmakers concerned about the breadth of the tariff authority granted to the president. Some Democrats have argued for greater limits on presidential power, while some Republicans have also expressed concerns about the economic and foreign-policy implications of broad secondary tariffs.
Supporters, meanwhile, argue that stronger economic pressure on Russia could increase the cost of continuing the war in Ukraine.
What happens if Trump signs the bill?
If enacted, the legislation would give Trump a new statutory tool. It would not necessarily mean that India immediately faces a 100% tariff.
The president would still have to decide whether to use the authority, which countries to target, and how the tariffs would be structured. Waiver and national-interest provisions could also affect how the law is implemented.
For India, that leaves a period of uncertainty.
The immediate issue is the House vote, but the longer-term question would be whether Washington uses the newly available tariff authority against countries continuing to purchase Russian energy.
India-US trade relations face another test
The proposed Russia sanctions bill comes at a sensitive moment for India-US economic relations. Any move toward a 100% tariff would introduce another layer of uncertainty for businesses that depend on the US market.
Indian policymakers and exporters will therefore be watching not only the House vote but also the administration’s interpretation of the legislation if it becomes law.
For now, India has not automatically been hit with a 100% US tariff. The House action has instead brought the possibility of such tariffs closer by advancing legislation that could give President Trump the legal authority to impose them.
The final House vote will determine whether the bill clears the next major congressional hurdle. If it does, attention will shift to the White House — and to the question of whether Washington ultimately uses the expanded tariff powers against India and other major buyers of Russian energy.
