100% tariff on India? Russia sanctions bill clears key hurdle, final House vote next - timesofindia.indiatimes.com

**U.S. Congress Nears Final Passage of Sweeping Russia‑Sanctions Bill**

The Russia‑sanctions legislation that cleared the Senate this week has moved to the final stage in the House of Representatives, where a vote is slated for later this month. The bill, championed by a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers and named in honor of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, seeks to tighten economic pressure on nations that facilitate Russia’s ability to evade Western sanctions. After a marathon debate on the House floor, the measure is expected to be brought to a vote after a brief procedural motion, marking the last major hurdle before it can be signed into law by the president.

At the heart of the proposal is a punitive tariff regime that would impose a 100 percent duty on imports from India and China if either country purchases more than a prescribed amount of Russian crude oil or refined products. The legislation also authorises secondary sanctions against foreign entities that knowingly aid Russia’s energy trade, expands export‑control lists to cover dual‑use technologies, and directs the Treasury to publish a quarterly “sanctions compliance” report. Proponents argue that the tariffs are designed to cut off revenue streams that fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine, while critics warn that such measures could destabilise global supply chains and strain U.S. strategic partnerships.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has already lodged a diplomatic protest, stating that the tariff threat would “undermine the principles of free trade” and could harm Indian exporters across sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to textiles. Chinese officials have issued a parallel rebuke, calling the move “unilateral coercion.” Both governments are expected to seek exemptions or negotiate thresholds that would keep bilateral trade intact. In Washington, the bill enjoys strong support from both Republicans and Democrats who view it as a necessary lever against Russian aggression, even as some lawmakers caution that the economic fallout could reverberate in emerging‑market economies that rely on U.S. market access. If enacted, the legislation would mark the most aggressive use of tariff tools against non‑Western partners in the post‑Cold War era and could reshape the calculus of U.S. trade policy in Asia.