India has been explicitly named in a House amendment that could expose countries buying Russian energy to tariffs of up to 100%. The bill is not yet law and does not automatically impose tariffs on India, but it could give Trump sweeping authority to target Russian oil buyers with punitive duties.
September 16: The US House of Representatives has voted to advance a bill that would give President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on India and other countries that buy Russian oil and gas, while also extending existing sanctions on Iran. The measure cleared a key procedural hurdle on Tuesday evening, setting the stage for a final House vote expected on Wednesday.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 advanced by a 214-211 vote after Democrats Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington joined Republicans. The result surprised House Democratic leaders. The vote was on a procedural rule and did not itself approve the sanctions legislation. If the House ultimately adopts the Senate-passed text without changes, the legislation would move to the White House for President Trump’s consideration.
The measure is significant for India because it would create a mechanism for imposing steep secondary tariffs on major purchasers of Russian energy. Importantly, the legislation would not automatically impose a 100 per cent tariff on Indian goods. Instead, it would give the US president the authority to impose such duties on countries covered by the bill if they continue to purchase Russian oil or gas or assist in evading sanctions.
The Senate approved its version of the legislation on August 7 by an overwhelming 86-11 vote. That version does not specifically name India or China but refers to the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas by volume. A House amendment introduced by Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer would go further by explicitly naming India, China, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Slovakia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as countries eligible for duties of up to 100 per cent.
READ: No One Touches the Killers of Kuki-Zo Civilians in Manipur. Where Is the State?
US House advances upto 100% tariff bill on India and four other countries for a final vote tomorrow, where it is expected to pass. (BRICS 2026 After Effects) pic.twitter.com/TbRHdOKPC9
— IDU (@defencealerts) September 16, 2026
The proposed amendment has therefore brought India directly into the text of the House debate. India has remained a major buyer of discounted Russian crude since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with New Delhi maintaining that its purchases are driven by energy-security considerations and that it complies with applicable sanctions. The US, meanwhile, argues that revenues from Russia’s oil trade help finance Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
The House debate has also exposed disagreement among Democrats over how much tariff authority should be handed to Trump. Congressman Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has opposed the provision, arguing that it would give the president broad authority to impose tariffs without adequate guardrails. Meeks has introduced an amendment seeking to remove the provision granting this secondary-tariff authority altogether.
Meeks has also proposed other changes, including allowing the president to waive sanctions on a foreign person for 90 days, with renewals if deemed necessary for US national security. Another amendment from him would authorise $15 billion in direct loans to Ukraine for defence procurement. The competing amendments underline the divisions within the House over both the scope of presidential tariff powers and the broader US strategy towards the Russia-Ukraine war.
Beyond the proposed tariffs, the legislation would impose sanctions on Russian officials and the country’s energy sector and target vessels belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet”, which Washington says is used to circumvent restrictions on Russian oil shipments. It would also extend US sanctions relating to Iran. The Trump administration has previously backed the legislation, describing the tariff authority as an important tool for increasing pressure on Russia and encouraging a negotiated end to the war.
The legislation is now moving through a compressed timetable, with the House facing an early recess ahead of the November midterm elections. The immediate question is whether the House will pass the Senate measure as it stands or alter it through the competing amendments. For India, the key issue is whether the final legislation retains presidential authority to impose secondary tariffs and, if so, whether India remains explicitly identified as an eligible country.
Even if the bill becomes law, any 100 per cent tariff on Indian goods would still require a subsequent decision by the US president. The legislation therefore creates a significant tariff risk for India rather than an immediate 100 per cent duty.
