Washington (The COW News Digital)The US House of Representatives passed groundbreaking legislation giving President Donald Trump authority to impose tariffs up to 100 percent on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, directly targeting major importers including India and China.
The House approved the bill by a 262 to 159 vote following Senate passage, sending the measure to the president’s desk. Designed to squeeze Moscow’s energy revenues funding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the law targets Russia’s energy sector, high-ranking officials, and its “shadow fleet” of oil tankers. While the bill grants executive authority, specific implementation dates and target commodities remain subject to upcoming administrative decrees, with national interest waivers included.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded by reaffirming its commitment to securing diverse energy supplies for its 1.4 billion citizens. Official statements highlighted that Russian crude accounted for approximately 30 percent of India’s total oil imports in Fiscal Year 2026 due to discounted rates following Western sanctions. New Delhi cautioned that potential tariffs would jeopardize bilateral trade relations and disrupt global energy market stability.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the US legislative move, warning that imposing additional sanctions would stall peaceful resolution efforts regarding Ukraine. Despite Western financial restrictions, Russian banking authorities reported that nearly 96 percent of bilateral trade between India and Russia is now processed using localized rupee-ruble payment mechanisms.
