US Senate clears bill for tariffs over Russian oil
US Senate passes bill allowing tariffs of up to 100% on Russian oil buyers, naming India among five target economies while sparing US allies in Europe.
On Friday, the US Senate approved a bill with an 86 to 11 vote, enabling tariffs of up to 100% on nations purchasing Russian oil, gas, and other exports. India is among the five target economies identified by the bill's authors, while US allies in Europe remain unaffected. The measure, called the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act 2026, sets a headline ceiling but allows the US Trade Representative (USTR) to determine the actual tariff rate.
The bill requires a presidential waiver, subject to Congressional certification, with reassessment every 180 days. The bill permits, but does not obligate, the executive branch to act against the five named countries, which include China, India, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan. The sponsors argue that the tariff rate should be high enough to deter Chinese and Indian purchases.
India has previously criticized similar moves as unfair, given that Russian exports are also consumed by other countries and are guided by energy security needs. The bill will now be taken to the House of Representatives, where Republicans control the floor calendar, and it is the final hurdle before it reaches President Trump for signature.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, highlighted that Ukraine's plight is shared with the people of Ukraine and that they should not be alone against Russia's aggression. For India, the vote comes as the US and India are negotiating a trade deal, offering Washington an additional lever over New Delhi. This vote may reshape the arithmetic in those talks.
The US itself has tolerated Russian crude purchases during energy crises created by its actions in West Asia, but that waiver has since expired. The bill gives both governments room to maneuver, with the USTR's discretion in setting the tariff rate as the first pressure point, and reassessment every 180 days allowing for reversibility.
Indian negotiators have urged their American counterparts to provide Delhi with a competitive advantage over trade rivals, such as Bangladesh and Indonesia.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
