US Senate Advances Russia Sanctions Bill; India May Face 100% Tariffs
By jayesh chouhan 2026-07-30 13:12:11
US Senate Clears Russia Sanctions Bill, India Could Face 100% Tariffs
The US Senate has moved a step closer to imposing tougher sanctions on Russia, with potential consequences for India. On Tuesday, senators voted 86-12 to advance a bipartisan bill that would give President Donald Trump broad powers to target Russia's energy trade and countries buying its oil and gas.
The proposed legislation would allow the US president to impose a 500% tariff on Russian imports and an additional 100% tariff on the world's five largest buyers of Russian crude and natural gas, as well as countries helping Moscow evade energy sanctions. India and China, among Russia's biggest energy customers, could be affected if the bill becomes law.
The measure also extends the Iran Sanctions Act until 2031 and allows the president to waive sanctions if deemed in US national interest. While the Senate could pass the bill later this week, it is unlikely to become law before September as the House is in August recess.
Trump has backed the proposal and met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the vote. Zelenskyy urged US lawmakers to maintain sanctions pressure on Moscow, calling it "a big signal to Europe and Ukraine." Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the bill would send a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, though some lawmakers cautioned it would significantly expand the president's tariff powers. If enacted, the legislation could reshape global energy trade and impact India's imports of discounted Russian crude.
