US Amendment Seeks 100% Tariffs on India
A proposed amendment to a US sanctions bill targeting Russia has explicitly named India among countries that could face additional tariffs of up to 100% over continued energy trade with Moscow. The proposal is part of a wider congressional battle over how aggressively Washington should penalise major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
India Named in US Russia Sanctions Amendment
Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer has proposed naming India, China, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Slovakia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as countries potentially subject to additional duties under the legislation.
The amendment does not itself impose tariffs on India. It seeks to modify legislation already passed by the US Senate that would give President Donald Trump authority to levy additional tariffs on major purchasers of Russian energy.
The Senate approved the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by an 86-11 vote in August.
Russia Sanctions Bill Faces Competing Proposals
The legislation is designed to intensify economic pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine, including sanctions targeting Russian officials, financial entities and vessels associated with sanctions-evasion networks.
However, lawmakers remain divided over the proposed secondary tariff powers. Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks has introduced a competing amendment seeking to remove Section 113, which provides the President with authority to impose broad tariffs on Russia’s trading partners.
Meeks has also proposed allowing certain sanctions to be waived for renewable 90-day periods when considered vital to US national security.
India Tariff Threat Not Yet Final
The proposals were submitted as the US House of Representatives considers the Senate-approved legislation. Any amendments must pass the congressional process before becoming law.
India’s inclusion therefore represents a potential sanctions and tariff risk rather than an immediate trade measure. The final impact will depend on which amendments survive House consideration and whether the legislation ultimately receives presidential approval.
