US targets India with 100% tariffs on Russian oil, but spares uranium: What the sanctions law says | Today’s news
The United States is set to punish countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas with sanctions and tariffs of up to 100% on Moscow’s main energy customers, including India and China.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, gives President Donald Trump the power to impose up to 100 percent tariffs on goods from countries that continue to buy oil or natural gas of Russian origin or that help Moscow evade sanctions.
India and China, among the main buyers of Russian energy, could face further trade measures.
Nuclear exemption written into bill
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
The Russia-Iran Sanctions Act of 2026 allows the US president to impose up to 100% tariffs on countries buying oil or natural gas of Russian origin, targeting major importers such as India and China.
The US is imposing tariffs on countries buying Russian energy to pressure them to reduce their dependence on Russia, thereby limiting funds to support Russian actions in Ukraine.
The US tariff proposal puts pressure on India to reduce imports of Russian oil, which may impact India’s energy security given its heavy reliance on imported oil.
The sanctions law exempts activities under the US-Russia Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreements and allows imports of low-enriched uranium and certain medical isotopes under existing US law.
Experts suggest that India should continue to buy Russian oil if it is commercially viable, while negotiating with the US to protect its economic interests and energy security.
Section 111 of the legislation directs the US President to implement existing restrictions on uranium imports from Russia, specifically covering uranium supplied by Rosatom, the State Atomic Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries or successor entities.
However, Section 114 creates two important exceptions.
The first says that the name of the sanctions does not apply to activities carried out under the agreement on civil nuclear cooperation between the US and Russia concluded under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act.
The second exempts certain imports of low-enriched uranium for nuclear reactors that are subject to existing US law, along with certain imports of medical isotopes for which an exemption has been granted.
Read also | The Kremlin says the Russia sanctions bill will “complicate” Ukraine’s peace efforts
Why Russia still cares about US nuclear power
The carving reflects the long-term reality.
Russia remains an important player in the global uranium enrichment market, even as Washington seeks to reduce its wider economic dependence on Moscow.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, US civilian nuclear operators will purchase 12.71 million separate work units (SWUs) of enrichment services in 2025.
Russia supplied 3.284 million SWUs, roughly 26% of the total enrichment services purchased by US reactor operators, according to the agency.
U.S. enrichment accounted for about 23%, while France supplied 18% of foreign-origin enrichment, followed by the United Kingdom at 14% and the Netherlands at 8%, according to EIA data.
The numbers highlight the problem of replacing Russian for the US nuclear fuel supply is significantly more complicated than simply limiting purchases of Russian oil.
Russia and Russian-owned companies could account for more than one-third of global mined uranium production capacity by 2040 if existing, committed, planned and future projects reach full capacity, The Financial Times reported earlier this month.
The US is trying to build alternative enrichment capacities
Washington has already begun investing in additional domestic enrichment capacity to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office said the Energy Department awarded Orano USA a $900 million contract in January 2026 to build additional U.S. enrichment capacity, Reuters reports.
With the help of agencies.
