The US House of Representatives has passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that gives President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries, including India and China, over their purchases of Russian oil and gas.
The House approved the bill 262 to 159, with dozens of Democrats joining most Republicans in supporting sanctions and tariffs linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which had already cleared the Senate by an 86 to 11 vote last month, now heads to the White House, where Trump is expected to sign it into law.
The legislation targets Russia’s energy and defence sectors and its so called shadow fleet of tankers accused of helping Moscow evade existing sanctions. It also provides for additional sanctions on Iran.
For India, the most significant provision is the authority given to Trump to impose steep secondary tariffs on major buyers of Russian energy. India and China were specifically identified during House debate as major buyers potentially affected. However, the bill’s passage does not automatically impose a 100 per cent tariff on Indian goods. It gives Trump the authority to impose such tariffs, rather than triggering them outright.
Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, who piloted the legislation, said the measure was intended to put maximum economic pressure on Moscow and push President Vladimir Putin towards negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
Democrats opposed the bill’s broader tariff powers. Congressman Gregory Meeks argued it would hand additional tariff authority to a president who already uses tariffs extensively as a policy tool, and sought to remove the provision allowing secondary sanctions on Russia’s trading partners. That amendment was defeated, along with others seeking to limit which countries could be targeted and to add funding for Ukraine to purchase munitions.
India has remained a major buyer of Russian crude since the war disrupted global energy trade. The legislation does not announce a new tariff on India but gives Trump another legal instrument to impose one. The key question going forward will be whether and how Trump chooses to use that authority.
(Source: India Today)
