US House passes Russia sanctions Bill that could bring 100% tariffs on India

The United States House of Representatives on Wednesday passed legislation targeting Russia's energy sector, individuals associated with Moscow and its "shadow fleet" of tankers. The Bill authorises the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100% on India and other countries that buy oil and gas from Russia. The House voted 262 to 159 in favour of the measure.

The Bill, an amendment to the Senate's Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature. If enacted, it could lead to substantial US tariffs on Indian exports.

The timing is significant. New Delhi and Washington have been negotiating a preliminary trade deal, even as India's purchases of Russian oil have risen compared with last year. Under the legislation, the President would have the authority to waive sanctions in the national interest.

Which countries could be targeted

Potential targets are the top five largest importers, by total volume, of Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas in the 12 months preceding the law's enactment, and which have knowingly made new purchases of Russian crude oil more than 30 days after the Bill becomes law.

A country among the top five held to be "facilitating Russian oil sanctions evasion" would also be eligible for tariffs of up to 100%.

Countries that have taken significant steps to reduce their Russian natural gas imports, or whose gas imports amounted to less than 15% of Russia's total gas exports, would be exempt.

A House amendment moved by Democrat Steny Hoyer, which sought to name the top 10 importers — among them China, India, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Slovakia, the UAE and the Kyrgyz Republic — was not included in the final version considered on Wednesday.

India's oil imports and existing tariffs

India's import of Russian oil touched an 11-month high in April this year, following the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Earlier, India had cut back on Russian crude, with purchases falling to a 38-month low in December 2025. The Trump administration had announced an additional 25% tariff on India, on top of an existing 25%, over the purchase of Russian energy. The US Treasury paused sanctions on oil shipments already in transit before March 11, 2026, as supplies were disrupted by the US-Iran conflict.

Concerns over presidential powers

The Bill is named for Lindsey O. Graham, a prominent supporter of Ukraine who died suddenly on July 11 this year. It passed the Senate 86-11 on August 7. Opponents included prominent Democrats such as Elizabeth Warren, independents caucusing with the Democrats such as Bernie Sanders, and Republicans including Rand Paul. Their concerns centred on the sweeping powers the law would grant the President and the cost that tariffs would impose on American consumers.

Several lawmakers have said the Act would strengthen Mr. Trump's ability to impose tariffs on US allies such as Canada and the European Union as a whole.

Gregory Meeks, the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticised the Bill. "We cannot grant the President more tariff power that, we know, he will abuse," Mr. Meeks said, adding that it would cost at least $3,000 per American family, assuming Mr. Trump restricted tariffs to the top five importers of Russian oil.

In remarks on Tuesday, Mr. Meeks stressed that he supported sanctions on Russia. He argued that the President already holds powers to sanction Russia but has not used them.

The measure now awaits the President's decision, with its consequences for India's energy purchases and its trade negotiations with Washington still to be determined.