It has put India among the countries that could face another round of US trade pressure. Washington: The US House of Representatives has passed a Russia sanctions bill that gives President Donald Trump a legal route to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil and gas.
US Legislation Grants President Authority for Tariffs on Russian Oil Purchasers
Recent legislation does not automatically impose a 100% tariff on Indian goods; rather, it empowers the US president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from specific countries. This includes nations identified as significant purchasers of Russian energy, such as India and China.
The bill targets countries that continue to import Russian crude oil and natural gas. According to the House Ways and Means Committee, the president can increase tariffs on goods from countries that knowingly engage in these purchases, with the maximum duty reaching 100%. This provision specifically applies to countries that were among the five largest importers of Russian oil or gas during the previous 12 months.
The House vote followed more than a year of negotiations over the sanctions package. The measure was named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who had pushed for tougher action against Moscow. The House then took up the measure after months of debate over the extent of the president’s tariff powers. Whether those powers are used against India will depend on decisions taken by the administration after the bill becomes law.
The House passage therefore gives Trump additional powers over trade with countries buying Russian energy. The Senate passed the legislation by an overwhelming majority on August 7. The final House vote was 262-159, with support from lawmakers of both parties. The committee said the bill also directs the president to impose tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods and allows duties of up to 100% on goods from countries that meet the specified Russian energy-import conditions.
“During the war, it is sometimes better to make a not-so-perfect decision than to do nothing,” he said in a post on X. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith said the legislation would give Trump additional tariff authority while tightening sanctions on Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had urged US lawmakers to support the legislation before the vote.
