India Says It Is Monitoring U.S. Russia Sanctions Bill, Vows to Protect Trade Interests
India has noted the passage of the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act in the U.S. Congress and is watching developments, the MEA said.
India has taken note of the passage of the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act in the U.S. Congress and is monitoring further developments, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Thursday (September 17, 2026).
The legislation, cleared by the U.S. House of Representatives, authorises the President to impose tariffs of up to 100% on India and other countries that purchase oil and gas from Russia. It will now be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature and could lead to substantial U.S. tariffs on Indian exports.
The MEA said the matter had been raised with various U.S. interlocutors. It stated that the Indian side had clearly articulated the potential implications of the measure, both for the bilateral relationship and for the international energy market.
"India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people," the Ministry said, adding that this would be pursued through diversified sourcing and on the basis of evolving market dynamics.
The government also made clear its determination to take all necessary measures to protect its trade and economic interests, and said it would work closely with Indian trade and industry bodies to address the implications arising from these developments.
Who the tariffs would target
Under the bill, potential targets are the five largest importers, by total volume, of Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas in the 12 months preceding its enactment, provided they knowingly make new purchases of Russian crude after 30 days from the date the law takes effect.
Countries that have taken significant steps to reduce their Russian natural gas imports, or whose gas imports accounted for less than 15% of Russia's total gas exports, would be exempt.
India's imports of Russian oil climbed to an 11-month high in April this year amid the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran. Purchases had earlier been scaled back, falling to a 38-month low in December 2025, after the Trump administration announced an additional 25% tariff on India over its Russian energy purchases, on top of an existing 25% levy.
The U.S. Treasury had paused sanctions on oil shipments in transit before March 11, 2026, as supplies were disrupted following the U.S.-Iran conflict.
The latest bill is an amendment to the Senate's "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026" and now heads to President Trump's desk.