Trump Tariff Threat: US House Advances Russia Sanctions Bill, India Faces Up To 100% Tariff Risk

The US House of Representatives has moved a bill that is going to provide President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that are still purchasing Russian oil and gas, where India is among the countries who may face another round of tariffs.

The House Rules Committee voted 7-3 on September 14 to move the legislation, which is named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, for floor debate, rejecting Democratic amendments in the process.
The debate on the rule started around midday on September 15, which is now cleared; the House is now going to take up the bill for final passage.

The Senate had already passed the legislation by an 86-11 vote on August 7.

It should, however, be noted that the legislation does not automatically impose a 100% tariff on India. Instead, it would give the US president the option to impose tariffs of up to 100% on those countries that are purchasing Russian energy.

Russia's Sanctions Bill Impact on India Overall

India has been a major buyer of Russian crude oil since the Russia-Ukraine war. The India-Russia relationship has become a source of friction with Washington.

A House amendment proposed by Democrats, led by Representative Steny Hoyer, mainly lists India, China, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Slovakia, the UAE, Singapore, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan & more countries that could be eligible for duties of up to 100% under the legislation.

However, the potential tariff provision is major because the Senate bill points to the largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas rather than automatically imposing a tariff on the countries above.

If the House passes the legislation, it would then move to the White House for President Trump's consideration. If signed into law, Trump would have the authority to decide whether to impose tariffs and how to use that authority.

Impact on Indian Exporters

For India, the potential impact is much more than just the oil market. The US is one of India's largest export markets, which means any extra tariff on Indian goods will affect exporters from several sectors, including pharmaceuticals, textiles and apparel, engineering goods, chemicals, auto components, gems, and jewellery.