US House passes 100% tariff bill on Russian oil buyers as India defends imports
The US House of Representatives approved legislation enabling 100% tariffs on buyers of Russian oil, prompting New Delhi to warn that penalties would harm bilateral ties and global energy security.
House clears secondary sanctions bill
The US House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on Wednesday by a vote of 262 to 150. House Democrats broke with party leadership to join all but seven Republicans in approving the legislation. The bill grants President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries importing Russian oil and gas, with primary focus on China and India. It also expands sanctions on Iran, targets Russian defense sectors and senior officials including Vladimir Putin, and penalizes Moscow's shadow fleet of tankers. An exemption applies to countries importing less than 15% of Russian natural gas exports. The measure now moves to Donald Trump for his signature into law.
- In favor
- 262 votes
- Against
- 150 votes
Tariff timelines and congressional warnings
Under the statutory provisions, targeted countries normally receive 180 days to negotiate terms or reduce Russian energy imports before penalties take effect. The legislation allows the president to shorten that timeline at his discretion. The sanction provisions also explicitly target older vessels in Russia's maritime logistics network that bypass Western price caps. Following the floor vote, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal issued a direct warning to purchasers in Asia.
China and India, you better buy your oil and gas somewhere else.
India defends energy security and sovereign trade
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs responded on Thursday, stating that New Delhi raised objections directly with US officials in prior months. Indian officials stressed that punitive tariffs would harm bilateral relations between Washington and New Delhi while destabilizing global energy markets. The ministry affirmed that India will continue procuring energy from diversified sources based on market dynamics to supply its population.
India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people. It will continue to do so through diversified sourcing and on the basis of evolving market dynamics.
The ministry stated that the Indian government will collaborate with domestic trade and industry bodies to address the economic fallout of the legislation.
Russia's dominance in Indian crude supplies
Data compiled by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air shows China and India together accounted for 87% of Russian crude exports between December 2022 and August 2026. Figures from the Global Trade Research Initiative indicate that Russia supplied 30.3% of India's crude imports in fiscal 2026, totaling $40.8 billion out of a $134.7 billion overall crude import bill. In July, Russian crude constituted over 50% of India's total imports, exceeding the combined shipments of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Brazil, Oman, and the United States. Indian refiners had previously reached 2.25 million barrels per day of Russian crude imports in March.
- China
- 50 %
- India
- 37 %
- Turkey
- 5 %
- European Union
- 5 %
Ajay Srivastava, a former Indian trade official who leads the Global Trade Research Initiative, evaluated the diplomatic and economic friction.
The bill is a blunt and dangerous attempt to pressurise India to sign the bilateral trade agreement on one-sided terms. India buys Russian oil to secure affordable energy for 1.4 billion people, not to finance war, and these purchases have helped stabilise global supplies and prices.
