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US Senate (Img: Pinterest)
Washington: The Senate of the US has adopted a new Russia sanctions package which may permit imposing sanctions on any country importing energy from Russia in the form of up to 100 percent tariffs on the products.
India has been included in the list of five countries that will come under the ambit of sanctions through imposition of tariffs if the legislation passes in its current form. Other nations in the list include China, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan.
The legislation has received an approval in the Senate by an absolute majority vote of 86-11.
The legislation, officially known as the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act 2026, sets a maximum tariff limit of 100 per cent. However, the final tariff rate would be decided by the US Trade Representative (USTR).
The bill also includes a presidential waiver provision, allowing the administration to exempt countries on national interest grounds. Any such decision would require reporting to Congress and a review every 180 days.
India has previously opposed similar tariff measures, arguing that its purchase of Russian crude is driven by energy security requirements.
New Delhi has maintained that several countries continue to purchase Russian energy supplies and that targeting India alone would be unfair. Earlier, the US had imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods over Russian oil imports, which was later removed following trade discussions.
The legislation will now move to the US House of Representatives, where it needs approval before reaching President Donald Trump for final consideration.
The proposed measure could become another point of discussion in India-US trade negotiations, as Washington seeks to pressure countries maintaining energy ties with Moscow.
The bill also provides flexibility to the US administration, allowing it to adjust tariff levels or use waiver provisions depending on diplomatic and economic considerations.
