Washington. Preparations to impose up to 100 percent tariff in America on countries purchasing crude oil and natural gas from Russia may also increase pressure on India. The House of Representatives, the lower house of the US Parliament, on Tuesday gave procedural approval by a margin of 214-211 to advance the bill imposing tough sanctions on Russia and Iran. Now the final vote on the bill is to be held.
The official name of this bill is 'Lindsay O. Graham's Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The Senate has already passed it with an overwhelming majority of 86-11. The proposed legislation would give the US President the power to impose hefty additional tariffs on certain countries that buy energy from Russia.
Up to 100% tariff may be imposed on these countries including India
The bill provides for action against major buyers of Russian oil and gas. In the current proposal, along with India, the names of China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan have come up as possible target countries. These countries may be given the right to impose additional tariffs up to 100 percent if they continue purchasing energy from Russia. However, it is important to note that 100 percent tariff has not yet been implemented in India. For this, it is necessary for the bill to be passed by the House and the further constitutional process to be completed.
Approval has been received from the Senate
'Lindsay O. The Graham Sanctions Russia and Iran Act of 2026 was passed by the US Senate in August by a vote of 86-11. The bill also provides for strengthening economic sanctions against Russia and cracking down on its oil exports and networks that help it evade sanctions.
What happened in the house?
The US House on Tuesday approved a motion to advance the bill by a 214-211 vote. After this the bill has moved closer to final voting. According to reports, the final vote process in the House may proceed around Wednesday/Thursday. There has also been opposition to the bill in the House. Some lawmakers have objected to giving the president broad tariff powers, while supporters argue it would increase economic pressure on Russia.
Why is this bill important for India?
India has been buying large quantities of crude oil from Russia. In such a situation, if India is included among the targeted countries under US law and the President imposes tariffs up to 100 percent, then India-US trade relations may be affected. However, while the Bill provides for the power to impose tariffs up to 100 per cent, it does not mean that 100 per cent duty will automatically be imposed on India. The actual fee rate and its use will depend on the further process and the decision of the US administration.
What will happen next?
After a final vote in the House, the bill will have to go through the next stage of the US legislative process to become law. If this law is enacted and India is targeted under it, its impact on Indian energy imports from Russia and India-US trade could become a significant issue.
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