The US House of Representatives has officially passed a major sanctions bill that gives the US President special authority to slap up to 100% tariffs on countries buying oil and gas from Russia. This news has created serious worries in New Delhi, as India remains one of the largest buyers of discounted Russian crude energy.
The new law, officially named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, was passed with a strong majority of 262 159 votes. The primary goal of this legislation is to cut off funding for Moscow ongoing war efforts by targeting its major trade partners, mainly India and China. Now that the bill has cleared both the House and the Senate, it moves directly to President Donald Trump desk to be signed into law. If these heavy duties are put into place, Indian items exported to the United States ranging from textiles and pharmaceuticals to software and engineering goods could become twice as expensive, deeply hurting Indian exporters.
In response to this development, India’s Ministry of External Affairs clearly stated that securing affordable energy for its 1.4 billion people is a top priority that depends on global market conditions. Government officials emphasized that India will take all necessary steps to safeguard its national interests and protect its trade economy while closely tracking how Washington enforces these new powers.
