New Delhi, Sept 16 (NVI) The US House of Representatives today approved a Russia Sanctions Bill that could allow America to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on India and four other countries for purchasing Russian energy.
The Lower House of US Parliament, called the Congress, cleared the measure 214-211, with a final vote scheduled for Thursday.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 would give the US President authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the five largest purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.
India, China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan are currently identified as the countries that could face the tariffs over their Russian oil purchases.
The House vote was a procedural step that cleared the way for consideration of the legislation in a final vote. The 214-211 vote reflected opposition from members of both parties, but enough Republicans and Democrats supported the measure for it to advance.
The bill had already passed the Senate in August with strong bipartisan support. The legislation targets Russia’s energy and defence sectors and its sanctions-evasion network, while also containing provisions related to Iran. It would also allow the President to impose tariffs on five countries that do the most to assist Russia in evading existing sanctions.
Under the legislation, the US President would have authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the five largest purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas. The current countries identified for the oil-related tariff provision are China, India, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.
The legislation does not establish a uniform 100 per cent tariff on all five countries. The exact tariff rate for each country would be determined by the US Trade Representative within the authority provided by the legislation.
The proposed tariff mechanism is aimed at countries that continue to purchase Russian energy. India has remained a major buyer of Russian crude, making its energy trade with Moscow a central factor in the potential application of the legislation.
The House’s Thursday vote is the next legislative step. If the chamber passes the Senate-approved legislation, the bill would move towards the White House for presidential action. The tariff authority would then depend on its implementation by the Trump administration rather than taking effect automatically upon the House vote.
The legislation had been expected to face a longer delay, with a vote previously anticipated only after the US midterm elections. House Republican leadership subsequently shortened the current legislative session, allowing the bill to move ahead this week. The House Rules Committee cleared a procedural hurdle on Monday before Wednesday’s vote.
The bill has faced resistance from lawmakers in both parties. Democratic lawmakers have objected to giving the President broader authority to impose tariffs on US trading partners, while some Republicans have raised concerns over the possible effect of sanctions on domestic energy prices.
The legislation comes as India continues to import substantial volumes of Russian crude. India imported about USD 40.8 billion worth of crude oil from Russia in fiscal 2025-26, representing roughly one-third of its total crude imports, according to data from the Global Trade Research Initiative. (NVI)
