US Senate Approves Bill Allowing Tariffs on Major Russian Oil Buyers: What It Means for India and China

US Senate Moves Forward with Tariff Legislation

In a significant move, the US Senate has passed a Bill that empowers President Donald Trump to impose tariffs as high as 100% on countries like India and China, which are major consumers of Russian oil and gas. This decision comes as New Delhi closely observes the developments.

The Bill is now set to be reviewed by the House of Representatives.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, emphasized that India's energy security stance has been consistently articulated, focusing on the diverse energy needs of its 1.4 billion citizens, which includes sourcing from the US.

This statement was made in response to the Senate's approval of the Bill with a vote of 86-12.

Jaiswal added that India is actively engaging with relevant US stakeholders regarding this issue.

The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 aims to impose sanctions on Russia and those supporting its military actions in Ukraine.

These sanctions will target Russian officials, oligarchs, their families, foreign entities, and Russian financial institutions, including the so-called Russian Shadow Fleet.

The legislation permits the president to impose tariffs on imports from nations that significantly purchase Russian oil or gas and facilitate sanctions evasion.

Section 113 of the Bill specifically identifies five countries that are the largest buyers of Russian fuel or assist in sanctions evasion, threatening them with additional tariffs of up to 100%.

In addition to China and India, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan are also among the top purchasers of Russian oil.

The Bill mandates the US Trade Representative to review the top five purchasers every 180 days to adjust tariff rates based on their purchasing patterns.