US Russia Sanctions Bill: India Among Countries Named for Up to 100% Tariffs Under Proposed Amendment

New Delhi, Sep 16 (KNN) US lawmakers have proposed amendments to a Russia sanctions bill that could specifically name India among countries eligible for tariffs of up to 100 per cent over purchases of Russian-origin crude oil and natural gas, while another amendment seeks to remove the broad tariff provision altogether.

The amendments were submitted as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 moves towards consideration in the US House of Representatives. The Senate passed the legislation by an 86-11 vote on August 7, PTI reported.

Amendment Seeks to Name India, China

An amendment sponsored by Democratic Representatives Steny Hoyer and Marcy Kaptur proposes explicitly listing 10 countries as initially eligible for duties of up to 100 per cent under Section 113 of the legislation.

The proposed list includes China, India, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, the UAE, Singapore, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, according to the US House Rules Committee.

The underlying provision would authorise the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries purchasing Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas or facilitating sanctions evasion.

Meeks Moves to Scrap Broad Tariff Powers

Separately, Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks, along with other lawmakers, has proposed striking the section that authorises broad secondary tariffs.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee said Meeks opposes the bill's expansion of presidential tariff authority. His amendment would remove the provision authorising secondary tariffs on Russia's trading partners.

Meeks has also proposed allowing the President to waive sanctions applicable to a foreign person for 90 days, renewable for additional 90-day periods, when considered vital to US national security.

Bill Targets Russia's Energy Trade

The legislation seeks to impose additional sanctions on Russia, including measures targeting its leadership, energy sector and the so-called shadow fleet used to facilitate oil shipments and sanctions evasion.

The tariff provision is intended to put additional economic pressure on major purchasers of Russian energy. The legislation also includes measures concerning Iran and proposes USD 15 billion in direct loans to Ukraine to finance defence-related procurement.

The House Rules Committee reported the rule for consideration of the Senate amendments on September 14, clearing the way for House consideration of the legislation.

The proposed amendments do not themselves impose tariffs on India. Any such duties would depend on the final legislation and subsequent presidential action.

(KNN Bureau)