US House granted President Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent; India to be affected
WASHINGTON:-The US House of Representatives has passed legislation authorizing the President to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas. As a result of this authority granted by the House, India—which has been purchasing Russian crude oil—could face tariffs of up to 100 percent.
After the Senate passed it by a vote of 86–11 on August 7, the House of Representatives passed the ‘Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’ by a vote of 262–159 on September 16. The bill will now be sent to President Trump for his signature.
Russian crude oil constitutes a major share of India’s oil supply, and reliance on it is growing. According to the ‘Global Trade Research Initiative,’ Russia accounted for 30.3 percent of India’s total crude oil imports—valued at $134.7 billion—in the 2026 fiscal year, with purchases amounting to $40.8 billion.
This trend of dependency has been increasing throughout the 2026 period. Published data indicates that Russian crude oil accounted for more than half of India’s total crude oil imports in July.
India is a major partner in the purchase of Russian crude oil. According to the ‘Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air,’ India accounted for 37 percent of Russia’s crude oil exports between December 2022 and August 2026, ranking second only to China, which held a 50 percent share.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has stated that it has taken note of the bill’s passage and has clearly articulated its position regarding the potential impact on bilateral relations and the international energy market.
