U.S. lawmaker submits amendment naming India in Russia sanctions act - The Hindu

**U.S. Lawmaker Introduces Amendment to Name India in Russia‑Related Sanctions Bill**

Washington – A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives has lodged an amendment that would explicitly name India in a pending sanctions package aimed at curbing the flow of Russian oil. The amendment, attached to the “Countering Russian Aggression and Energy Security Act,” proposes a 100 % tariff on imports from any country that purchases Russian crude, with India singled out for its purchases of oil from Moscow in recent months. The move comes as the House Energy and Commerce Committee fast‑tracks the broader bill for a final vote before the November midterm elections, a timeline that has drawn criticism from both industry groups and U.S. administration officials who argue that the measure could jeopardize longstanding trade ties and contravene World Trade Organization rules.

Proponents of the amendment say the tariff is a necessary lever to force third‑party nations to reduce demand for Russian energy, thereby tightening the economic squeeze on President Vladimir Putin’s war effort in Ukraine. Representative Jim McGovern, the amendment’s sponsor, argued that “countries that continue to import Russian oil are undermining the sanctions regime and must face the full economic cost of their choices.” The proposal has found support among a handful of progressive lawmakers but faces stiff opposition from the Biden administration, which has warned that a blanket 100 % duty could “damage U.S. strategic interests” and alienate a key partner in the Indo‑Pacific region.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded swiftly, calling the amendment “unjustified, unilateral and contrary to the principles of free trade.” New Delhi emphasized that its purchases of Russian oil are part of a broader energy diversification strategy and that any punitive tariffs would harm bilateral commerce that now exceeds $1 trillion annually. While the amendment is unlikely to become law without broader consensus, its introduction underscores the growing pressure Washington is exerting on nations that continue to engage with Russia’s energy sector as the United States seeks to maintain a united front against Moscow’s aggression.