100% tariffs: Why India may ignore Trump threat and continue buying Russian oil
A year since the whole penal tariff cycle began - India now faces uncertainty related to its Russian crude purchases. A new Russia related sanctions bill in the US may see the light of the day if passed this year implying that Trump would have the power to impose tariffs on India again.
US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on India for purchasing crude oil from Russia in August 2025. One year later, India now faces the possibility of up to 100% tariffs on Russian crude oil imports. Despite the threat, India has continued to buy Russian crude, even after the US imposed sanctions on some Russian oil firms.
The situation has become more complex as India's dependence on Russian crude continues to rise. The US Trade Representative reviews the top five importers of Russian energy every 180 days, and the US President has the final say on whether to impose tariffs. However, those countries importing less than 15% of their energy needs from Russia and showing efforts to reduce dependence may be exempt from the tariffs.
The passage of the Russia Sanctions Bill may once again allow the US President to impose 100% tariffs on India. Despite the prospect of higher tariffs, experts believe that Russian crude will remain a crucial part of India's energy strategy for the foreseeable future.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
