The United States is advancing a new sanctions bill that would authorize President Donald Trump to levy tariffs of up to 100% on nations purchasing Russian oil and gas, a measure that threatens to significantly strain economic ties with India.
India, one of the world’s largest importers of Russian energy, has seen its commercial relationship with Moscow deepen since the onset of the war in Ukraine. The proposed legislation, known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, cleared a procedural barrier in the House of Representatives on Tuesday by a narrow margin of 214-211, according to media reports.
The House is expected to take a final vote on Wednesday. If passed, the bill will proceed to President Trump for signature. It seeks to increase economic pressure on Moscow by targeting countries that continue to purchase Russian energy, including provisions against the “shadow fleet” believed to facilitate sanctions evasion.
The legislation follows a similar measure already passed by the Senate last month. The bill imposes sanctions across Russia’s leadership, energy, and defense sectors.
This development poses a fresh challenge to India-US relations under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the two countries have bolstered energy trade, diplomatic ties have faced friction due to New Delhi’s reliance on Russian oil. In August of last year, Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports citing these purchases,叠加 atop an existing 25% reciprocal tariff.
However, the administration subsequently removed the additional Russia-related tariff in February 2026 and reduced the reciprocal tariff to 18% as part of a broader US-India trade framework. Despite these adjustments, a landmark bilateral trade agreement remains stalled without significant breakthroughs.
The Senate already passed their version, so this looks like a done deal unless Trump decides to veto it for diplomatic reasons.
Is this really about sanctions, or just leverage for a better trade deal? The timing feels suspiciously political.
India can’t easily swap Russian oil for Middle Eastern sources without higher costs. This punishes us for making pragmatic energy choices.
This is a massive escalation. A 100% tariff would essentially sever economic ties between the US and India overnight.