Sixty US Senators have endorsed a new bill proposing tariffs of up to 100% on India and four other nations for purchasing Russian oil. The bill, revealed on Friday, has garnered the support of US President Donald Trump and could be passed before August, according to its Senate supporters.
Senator John Thune, the leader of the majority Republican party in the Senate, is among the key supporters of the bill, which increases the likelihood of its passage in the upper chamber. Named the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, the legislation aims to grant the Trump administration the authority to impose tariffs up to 100% on the top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.
The bill specifically targets China, India, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan for their purchases of Russian oil. Additionally, it includes provisions for tariffs on the five countries aiding Russia in evading sanctions. The exact tariff rates will be determined by the US Trade Representative (USTR).
Notably, the bill offers significant exemptions for European allies that continue to import natural gas from Russia. It specifies that countries whose Russian natural gas imports account for less than 15% of Russia’s total natural gas exports and that are actively working to reduce those imports will be exempt from the tariffs. The USTR will reassess the top five purchasers every 180 days and can adjust tariff rates based on any changes in purchasing behavior.
The bill also contains an exemption for American purchases of low-enriched uranium used in nuclear reactors.
In June, India’s imports of Russian crude oil surged to record levels, rising 34% month-on-month. The value of Indian purchases of Russian crude oil reached 4.5 billion Euros in June, constituting approximately 36% of Russia’s exports. This positioned India as the second-largest buyer of Russian crude oil, following China, according to the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air. In June, Washington allowed a general license that permitted countries, including India, to purchase energy without incurring US sanctions to expire.
The newly unveiled bill is a modified version of the 2025 Sanctioning Russia Act, introduced in the US Senate in April of the previous year, which proposed a potential 500% tariff on countries purchasing Russian energy, including India. The maximum tariff has been reduced to 100%, and the scope now focuses solely on the top five purchasers of Russian oil or gas, rather than a broader range of countries.
Importantly, the bill includes a waiver provision that allows the US President to waive sanctions and duties on a country, provided that the President submits a justification and certification to Congress indicating that the waiver serves the national interest of the United States.
