Trump Signs Russia Sanctions Bill, Gets Power To Impose 100% Tariffs On India, China

WASHINGTON, Sept 19: US President Donald Trump has signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act into law, giving him expanded authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas, a list that currently includes India.

Trump signed the legislation on Friday, two days after it cleared the US House of Representatives, bringing to an end a nearly 18-month legislative process that began in April 2025, when an earlier version of the sanctions bill was introduced in the US Senate by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal.

The legislation seeks to curb Russia’s energy export revenues and increase pressure on Moscow to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict, which has continued for more than four years.

The law does not specifically name any country as a target. Instead, it directs the US Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretaries of State and Energy, to identify the five largest importers of Russian crude and natural gas by total volume during the preceding 12 months. The list will be reassessed every 180 days.

The President has discretion to impose tariffs at any rate up to the 100 per cent ceiling and is not legally required to impose them on Russian energy purchasers.

However, supporters of the legislation, particularly Senator Blumenthal, have publicly urged India and China to stop buying Russian oil and gas.

The legislation also provides exemptions for certain European countries whose Russian natural gas imports account for less than 15 per cent of Russia’s total gas exports and which are taking significant steps to reduce such imports.

Separately, the law authorises tariffs of up to 500 per cent on goods imported directly from Russia.

The President can also waive tariffs on a country by certifying to Congress that doing so is in the national interest of the United States. For a permanent removal, the President must certify that the country has stopped purchasing Russian energy and provided reliable assurances that such purchases will not resume. (Agencies)