India has pledged to take all necessary steps to safeguard its trade and economic interests following the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of a sanctions bill that could impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing significant amounts of Russian oil. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 was passed by a 262-159 vote, targeting nations including India, China, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens and emphasized its strategy to rely on a varied array of energy sources to adapt to fluctuating market conditions. The ministry has been in discussions with senior U.S. officials to assess the potential repercussions of the proposed measures and is coordinating with Indian trade and industry bodies to mitigate possible economic impacts.
In recent months, India has diversified its energy imports by increasing purchases from countries like the United States and Venezuela, although Russia remains a key supplier of crude oil. The legislation, having previously cleared the U.S. Senate, now awaits presidential approval before it can be enacted into law.
The potential tariffs have raised concerns about their impact on India-U.S. trade relations and the broader global energy market. The Indian government is actively considering strategies to address these challenges while maintaining its economic stability and energy security.