100% Tariff Threat to India: US House Passes Russia Sanctions Bill | What we know | Today’s news
The US House of Representatives has reportedly advanced a bill to impose 100% tariffs on India and four other countries to a final vote. The bill is expected to pass the House.
The law aims to punish Russia and major buyers of its oil products, which the US has claimed helped Moscow in its war with Ukraine. China and India are the two main consumers of Russian energy.
It was renamed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 after the late US Senator Lindsey Graham.
In early August, the bill was overwhelmingly approved by the US Senate.
What the bill on tariffs says
It allows President Donald Trump to impose 100% tariffs on goods from countries that import Russian oil and gas. In addition to China and India, the other countries on the list are Azerbaijan, Hlad and Slovakia.
The bill also aims to extend the expiration date of the 1996 Iran Sanctions Act to 2031. It affects companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.
The bipartisan bill was championed by Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal.
“This bill forces the primary countries that keep Russia’s economy afloat to make a simple but critical choice — a choice between trading with America or buying cheap Russian energy,” Darline Graham, the late senator’s sister, said after the Senate’s passage.
In addition to targeting Russian energy buyers, the bill also seeks to impose sanctions on Russian leaders, officials, oligarchs, financial institutions and President Vladimir Putin himself.
After passing the House, the bill will be sent to US President Trump. If the president also approved it, it would become law.
Indian attitude towards Russian energy
India maintained its stance on the issue of buying oil from Russia, saying it would depend on “national interest” including “adequate availability” and prevailing global oil prices.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday described India-Russia energy cooperation as an “important pillar” of the bilateral partnership, with both sides looking to expand cooperation in the sector.
Speaking on India-Russia energy cooperation, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized its importance.
“An important pillar of partnership”
“Energy cooperation between India and Russia is an important pillar of our partnership. The two countries have been cooperating in the energy sector for a long time, including in the area of nuclear energy. The Kudankulam project is a successful example of India-Russia cooperation in the energy sector,” Jaiswal said during the MEA’s fortnightly press conference in Delhi.
Jaiswal added that India is interested in further expanding energy cooperation with Russia. Both sides held discussions and technical teams engaged in consultations on various aspects of cooperation,” he said.
Russian President Putin was in India last week to attend the BRICS summit and hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
