US President Donald Trump’s tariff ambitions could soon get a legal pathway to hit India with tariffs as high as 100 per cent if a proposed Russia sanctions bill clears the US House of Representatives and becomes law.The House is scheduled to hold the final vote on the legislation on Wednesday afternoon (local time). If approved, the bill would be sent to Trump for his signature as presidential assent.Named the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026”, the legislation was named after former Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and also includes provisions targeting Iran, which has increasingly been a focus of Trump’s administration lately.The bill cleared a key procedural hurdle in the House on Tuesday evening after two Democrats broke ranks and joined Republicans in voting to advance it. The resolution passed 214-211, dealing a setback to House Democratic leadership.The US Senate had already passed the legislation on August 7 by an overwhelming 86-11 vote.The bill proposes sanctions targeting Russia’s leadership, energy sector and financial institutions, as well as its so-called “shadow fleet” of vessels used to circumvent sanctions and facilitate Russian oil exports.One of its most consequential provisions would authorise Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries that continue to buy significant quantities of Russian oil.That provision could put India and China in the crosshairs, as both remain among Russia’s biggest oil customers. The Senate-passed text does not explicitly name Russia’s trading partners, instead referring to the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas by volume.Trump has repeatedly targeted India over its purchases of Russian crude, accusing New Delhi of helping fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine. His administration has already used tariffs as a tool to pressure countries over their trade with Russia.The legislation also expands sanctions against Iran, adding another layer to Trump’s broader campaign of economic pressure against Tehran.The House vote comes as pro-Ukraine groups intensify lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. The Ukraine Action Summit, organised by the American Coalition for Ukraine, is currently underway, with advocates meeting US lawmakers to push for continued support for Kyiv.The proposed sanctions are rooted in Washington’s assessment that Russia’s oil revenues help finance its war against Ukraine. If enacted, the legislation would give the US president substantially greater leverage over countries that continue to purchase Russian energy.
