India May Face 100 Percent US Tariffs As Russia Sanctions Bill Nears Final Vote

The US House has cleared the way for a final vote on a Russia sanctions bill. India is named among ten countries that could face steep 100 percent tariffs over Russian oil purchases.

House Clears Procedural Hurdle For Russia Sanctions Bill

The US House of Representatives has moved a major Russia sanctions bill one step closer to becoming law. Lawmakers passed a procedural resolution by a narrow 214 to 211 vote on Tuesday. This clears the path for a final vote on the bill, expected as early as Wednesday.

The legislation in question is the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. It aims to increase economic pressure on Moscow over its ongoing war in Ukraine. The US Senate had already approved the bill last month by a strong 86 to 11 margin.

India Named Among Ten Countries Facing Possible Tariffs

An amendment introduced by Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer proposes naming ten countries directly in the bill. These nations would become eligible for tariffs of up to 100 percent under the bill’s secondary tariff rules.

The countries named include China, India, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic. All of them have continued buying oil or energy products from Russia despite Western pressure to stop.

If passed with this amendment, India would face one of the harshest trade penalties applied under the bill. India remains among the largest global buyers of discounted Russian crude oil.

What The Sanctions Bill Actually Targets

At its core, the bill seeks to punish Russian leadership directly. It also targets Russia’s energy sector and vessels linked to sanctions evasion efforts often called the shadow fleet.

Beyond sanctions on Russia itself, the bill grants the US President broad authority. Under this power, the President could impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian energy.

This secondary tariff authority is central to the ongoing debate inside the House. Supporters argue it gives Washington real leverage over countries still trading with Moscow.

A Second Amendment Seeks To Limit Presidential Power

Not everyone in Congress supports handing over such wide tariff powers. Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks has introduced a separate amendment along with several co sponsors.

Their proposal seeks to remove the provision granting broad secondary tariff authority to the President entirely. This amendment reflects concerns among some lawmakers about giving one office too much unilateral trade power.

The final shape of the bill will depend heavily on which amendments the House chooses to adopt during debate.

Limited Time Before Election Recess Adds Pressure

Time is tight for lawmakers working through this legislation. The House has only a limited number of working days left before an early recess.

That recess is set ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, adding pressure to finish debate quickly. Any changes made to the Senate approved text could also delay the bill further.

If the House passes the exact version already cleared by the Senate, the bill moves straight to President Donald Trump for his signature. However, if the House adopts amendments that alter the Senate text, both chambers will need to reconcile the differences before the bill can become law.

What This Could Mean For India Going Forward

The outcome of this vote carries real weight for India’s trade relationship with the United States. India has consistently defended its Russian oil purchases as a matter of energy security rather than political alignment.

Washington, on the other hand, has argued that continued purchases of discounted Russian crude indirectly help fund Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine. This disagreement has remained a persistent friction point between the two nations throughout the ongoing conflict.

The coming final vote will determine whether India actually faces these proposed 100 percent tariffs, or whether the provision gets modified or dropped during the legislative process.