New Delhi, Delhi
Concerns are growing in India over a new US bill aimed at imposing tougher sanctions on Russia. The US House of Representatives has passed the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026” by a vote of 262–159. The bill has now been sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
The proposed legislation includes provisions for imposing heavy tariffs on certain countries that purchase oil and gas from Russia. India is among the countries mentioned in this context. If President Trump exercises the authority provided under the legislation, additional tariffs of up to 100% could potentially be imposed on imports linked to India.
The primary objective of the bill is to increase pressure on Russia’s economy and its ability to sustain the war. It includes provisions for tougher sanctions targeting Russia’s leadership, energy sector, and vessels involved in supporting its activities.
For India, the biggest concern is Russian crude oil. Following the outbreak of the Ukraine war, India significantly increased its purchases of Russian crude at discounted prices. This has provided Indian refineries with relatively cheaper crude and helped meet the country’s energy requirements.
Besides India, the bill also mentions countries including China, the UAE, Türkiye, Singapore, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, and Slovakia.
If a 100% tariff is imposed on India, it could affect India-US trade and create additional economic pressure over India’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
However, passage of the bill does not mean that a 100% tariff will be imposed on India immediately. The final decision would depend on how President Donald Trump chooses to exercise the authority provided by the legislation. Whether he actually imposes such tariffs will depend on subsequent US policy decisions.
India-US trade relations have already been sensitive due to several ongoing issues. The proposed sanctions could therefore add further pressure to the economic and diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
