100% Tariff On India? US House Amendment Puts Russian Oil Trade Under Fresh Pressure

A US lawmaker has proposed explicitly naming India among countries that could face 100 per cent tariffs under a sweeping Russia sanctions bill, as the legislation moves towards a possible vote in the House of Representatives this week.

Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer has moved an amendment to the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act that would list India, China, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, the UAE, Singapore, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic as countries eligible for the proposed duties.

The House Rules Committee has advanced the legislation, clearing a key procedural hurdle. The House has only four working days left before it breaks for an early recess ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, leaving lawmakers little time to act.

The Senate passed the bill by an overwhelming 86 to 11 vote on August 7. It seeks sanctions on Russia's leadership and energy sector and targets the shadow fleet of vessels allegedly used by Moscow to evade sanctions on oil shipments.

The bill would authorise President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas. The Senate version does not specifically name countries, instead referring to the five largest importers of oil and gas by volume. The provision has been understood to cover countries including India and China.

Hoyer's amendment would explicitly put those countries into the legislation. However, India has not yet been subjected to the proposed tariff, as the House has not passed the bill.

Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks has moved a competing amendment to remove Section 113, which grants the President broad authority to impose secondary tariffs on Russia's trading partners. His amendment has three co sponsors. Democrats remain divided over the legislation, with some supporting tougher action against Russia while opposing expanded presidential tariff powers.

Meeks has also proposed allowing the President to waive sanctions against a foreign person for 90 days, renewable for additional 90 day periods if deemed vital to US national security.

Another Meeks amendment seeks to authorise $15 billion in direct loans to Ukraine to finance defence articles and services.

The amendments were made public by the House Rules Committee on Monday. The final fate of India's proposed listing will depend on which amendments survive the House process before the bill can be sent to Trump for his signature.