President Trump has signed a Russia sanctions law that lets him impose tariffs of up to 100% on India over its Russian oil purchases. India says it will protect its energy security and trade interests.
NEW DELHI, September 19, 2026: US President Donald Trump signed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act into law on Friday, activating legislation that gives him the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on India and other major buyers of Russian oil and gas. The White House confirmed the signing in a statement, naming the law H.R. 5334, the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026."
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had stated that the country was "fully committed to securing energy security for its 1.4 billion people through diversified sources." India is going to safeguard its trade and economic interests. According to New Delhi, the problem has been discussed with American representatives, and the side stressed that the sanctions may impact not only the bilateral relations but the world energy market as well.
The Indian officials have continuously stressed that the oil from Russia is not financing the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv but stabilising the global supply and oil prices in India. Russia was providing about 30 to 40 percent of crude imports until 2026. Moreover, Indian refineries have already secured September and October oil shipments that contain Russian oil.
The act mandates that the president impose tariffs of 100% on goods imported from those nations that rank amongst the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil or natural gas in the preceding 12 months, where such duties will come into effect within 30 days of the act coming into effect.
A nation is exempted from the tariffs concerning gas if Russian gas constituted less than 15% of the total imports from that nation and such a nation has made substantial efforts to reduce its import share. The President enjoys broad discretion in choosing the countries for imposition of the tariff, and also the rate, as well as exemption from the sanctions. The House voted 262 to 159 in favour of this bill on September 16, after it was approved by the Senate in August 86 to 11.
The law lands at a delicate point in US-India trade talks and adds pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat early next year. Cutting Russian oil purchases risks pushing up domestic fuel prices, while continuing them risks further tariffs on Indian exports to the US, its largest market.
Michael Kugelman of the Atlantic Council has said the timing could not be worse for trade negotiations that are close to a deal, and that the law may widen the trust gap between the two sides. Ajay Srivastava of the Global Trade Research Initiative has argued that tariffs of up to 100 percent would hurt Indian exporters and American consumers alike, and that India should continue buying Russian oil as long as it remains commercially competitive rather than let US tariff threats dictate its energy policy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, thanked Trump and Congress for passing the law, saying its provisions should be implemented fully and quickly in honour of Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July.
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