Russia Sanctions Bill: India gets a breather as Trump’s 100% tariff weapon stalls in US House

A Russia sanctions bill that overwhelmingly cleared the US Senate last month is facing growing opposition in the House and is likely to remain stalled until at least the November Midterm election in the country, amid concerns that it could expand President Donald Trump’s tariff powers and push up oil prices, reported Bloomberg.

The bill, authored by the late Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a stalwart Ukraine supporter, would authorize Trump to levy 100% tariffs on the top five buyers of Russian crude and natural gas, as well as the top five countries aiding Russia’s energy sanctions evasion. China, India and Turkey are the largest purchasers of Russian petroleum products.

ALSO READ |"Conflict will not be resolved by buying or not buying oil": S Jaishankar on US sanctions bill


The growing concern among both Democratic and Republican lawmakers is a victory for the retail industry and the influential business alliance US Chamber of Commerce, which have stoked fears the measure would arm the Trump administration with new legal justification for widespread tariffs.

India defends Russian oil purchases

On Thursday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the Russia-Ukraine conflict would not be resolved based on whether countries buy Russian oil, minerals or other commodities, asserting that the dispute can only be settled through dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations.

ALSO READ | India’s $40 billion Russian oil lifeline shouldn’t buckle under Trump’s 100% tariff threat: GTRI

Responding to a question on whether India would reduce its purchases of Russian oil if the US approves sanctions against countries buying Russian oil, Jaishankar highlighted the challenges of ensuring energy security for India's 1.4 billion people and said both Ukraine's and India's perspectives on the issue should be respected.

"I think it's also important that all of you get the challenges of providing for energy for 1.4 billion people at a time when the world energy situation is very, very difficult. So, I would say, I mean, this is something where clearly the Ukraine side has its perspective, which we respect, and we have ours, which I would expect others to also respect," Jaishankar said while responding to queries after his meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv.

"But let me just add this. You know, this conflict, which is today in its third year, will not be solved because somebody is buying or not buying oil or alumina or minerals or metals or fertiliser. This conflict will be solved by dialogue, by diplomacy, and by negotiation. And that is why it is something we would encourage," he added.

India’s exposure to Russian oil

Russia accounted for 30.3% of India’s crude imports in FY2026, with purchases worth $40.8 billion out of total crude imports of $134.7 billion, according to the GTRI report.

The research body said discounted Russian crude has helped India reduce its oil import bill, strengthen energy security and contain inflation.

“India shouldn’t allow tariff threats to determine its energy policy. As long as Russian crude remains commercially attractive, India should continue buying it. Differences with Washington must be managed through firm negotiation—not extending unilateral concessions that raise India’s energy costs and weaken its strategic autonomy,” the think tank founder Ajay Srivastava said last month.

Why is the bill being stalled?

Some Ukraine supporters in Washington have been pushing for passage of the bill as a way to signal US support for Kyiv. But it’s not clear whether Trump would actually use the powers the bill would give him, especially against China.

The lopsided 86-11 Senate vote for the sanctions bill reflected a desire by Graham’s colleagues to honor him following his sudden death in July, just after returning from a visit to Ukraine. The House is proving cooler to the idea.

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday cast doubt on the sanctions bill coming to a vote before the Nov. 3 midterm congressional elections. That is part because lawmakers only plan a few days at work in Washington during the next two months, he said.

Johnson said the top Democrats on the foreign affairs and tax-writing committees oppose the measure and that suggests broader difficulties with Democrats. There are also “pockets” of concern among House Republicans, he said.

“We all believe in sanctioning Russia, but you have to have the right formula if you are passing a bill,” he told reporters Thursday. “We’re trying to work through that and make sure we can get a product that can get across the line.”

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast said the bill is being evaluated in part for its possible effect on gas prices. Mast, a Florida Republican, said that if the bill forces India and other buyers of Russian crude into the market for oil from other countries that could drive up prices.

“That is part of what’s being evaluated right now,” he said.