A single piece of legislation moving through the US Congress could hand President Donald Trump one of the most sweeping tariff powers any American president has had in decades. The bill, tied to sanctions against Russia, would let the President impose tariffs of up to 100% on the countries that buy the most Russian oil and gas. It has already cleared the Senate with strong bipartisan support. Now it’s stuck in the House, where lawmakers can’t agree on how far this power should go.
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Why Lawmakers Are Fighting Over It
The disagreement isn’t about punishing Russia; almost everyone in Congress agrees on that goal. The real fight is over how much control to hand the President. One group of lawmakers wants the bill to name specific countries, including India and China, directly in the law. Another group wants to strip out the tariff powers altogether, warning that giving one person the authority to set tariffs anywhere from 0% to 100% for different countries is too risky. Critics say it could be used as leverage in trade disputes that have nothing to do with Russia or Ukraine, hurting American shoppers and businesses through higher prices along the way.
What It Means for India
India buys a large share of its crude oil from Russia accounting for roughly half its oil imports in parts of 2026 making it one of the countries most exposed to this bill. India has already faced a 25% tariff from Washington over its Russian oil purchases, and this new legislation could open the door to raising that much further, potentially up to 100% on Indian goods entering the US. That would be a serious blow to Indian exporters who rely on the American market, from textiles to pharmaceuticals to auto parts. However, the bill also allows the President to grant waivers, so nothing is locked in yet.
Will India Actually Face the 100% Tariff?
For now, the 100% tariff remains a possibility, not a done deal. The House still has to work through the competing amendments before any final vote, and even then, legal challenges could follow. India, along with other countries reliant on Russian energy, will be watching this debate closely in the weeks ahead.
