US House Passes Russia Sanctions Bill Seeking to Impose up to 100% Tariffs on India

The bill is named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who spent more than a year negotiating it.

The Wire Staff

The bill is named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who spent more than a year negotiating it.

us house passes russia sanctions bill seeking to impose up to 100 tariffs on india

The U.S Capitol photographed Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Washington. Photo: AP/Mariam Zuhaib.

New Delhi: The US House on Wednesday (September 16) passed a broad package of sanctions targeting Russian officials and key pillars of its economy as lawmakers look to deprive President Vladimir Putin of the financial resources needed to wage the war against Ukraine. It also promises steep tariffs on Russian trading partners in oil and gas, including India and China.

The bill is named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who spent more than a year negotiating it. The measure was approved in a 262-159 vote and now heads to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pushing for the bill's passage and made a direct appeal to senators shortly before they passed it last month.

The measure sanctions Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keeps Russian energy moving. It also directs Trump to impose up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas – including India – with an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia’s natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.

This is the first time that India is named in such a Bill in the US. Other countries on which 100% duties are to be imposed are Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Slovak Republic, UAE, Singapore, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic.

Last year, Trump slapped a 25% tariff on Indian goods as New Delhi continued to buy Russian crude oil at a discounted price. It was rolled back later as Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks between the two countries moved forward. Russia remains India’s largest oil supplier.

“These countries have a choice to make about whether they will continue to sustain Putin's aggression,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas.

In all, 58 Democrats broke with Jeffries and voted for the bill, while 152 voted against it. Among Republicans, 203 voted yes while seven voted against it.

(With AP inputs)

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