India, China fear 100% US tariffs after Senate clears bill to sanction Russia, major buyers: What we know

The US Senate has passed a bipartisan bill, the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas. According to the Times of India, the bill targets countries such as India and China, arguing that such trade helps sustain Moscow's economy and fund its war in Ukraine.

The legislation gives the US president the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the world's top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas, potentially including India and China, as per the Times of India and Hindustan Times. India has emerged as the second-largest importer of Russian crude, as reported by Hindustan Times.

The bill also proposes sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior officials, financial institutions, energy projects, and other entities linked to Russia's war effort. The White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said it was up to the negotiators to determine if the new US legislation will affect trade talks with India, according to Hindustan Times.

Brief written by urgent.news from Live Mint, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Japan Times — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.