The US House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to advance a bill that would authorise President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on India and other countries that purchase oil and gas from Russia.
The resolution to advance the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, along with a number of other bills, was approved by a 214-211 vote.
The measure cleared the procedural hurdle after two Democratic lawmakers broke ranks with their party and voted alongside Republicans. Final voting on the bill is expected on Wednesday.
The legislation was passed by the US Senate in an 86-11 vote on August 7 and is now before the House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to impose sanctions on Russia’s leadership, energy sector and vessels allegedly involved in sanctions evasion. It would also give the US President the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major purchasers of Russian energy.
The bill passed by the US Senate does not name Russia's trading partners, but mentions five largest importers of oil and gas by volume.
Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer has introduced an amendment that would explicitly identify 10 countries as eligible for duties of up to 100 per cent under the bill’s secondary tariff provisions. These countries are China, India, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic.
Another amendment, introduced by Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, seeks to remove the provision granting the President broad authority to impose secondary tariffs.
The bill must clear the House before it can be sent to the President for his signature.
