Trump Signs the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, Opening the Door to Potential 100% Tariffs on Indian Imports

On Friday, President Donald Trump put his signature on a massive sanctions package aimed at Russia, the White House announced. Officially dubbed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, the measure clears the final legislative hurdle after sailing through the Senate last month and surviving a 262‑159 vote in the House.

What the bill really does is hand the executive branch a new lever: the power to slap tariffs of up to 100 % on any nation that keeps buying Russian oil or natural gas. It’s not an automatic trigger, though – Trump or his administration would have to decide to pull the lever, and there are a few strings attached.

One of those strings is an exemption for countries that import less than 15 % of Russia’s natural‑gas exports and can show they’ve taken “substantial measures” to curb those purchases. In other words, if you’re only a minor buyer and you’re actively weaning off Russian energy, you’re likely safe from the harshest penalties.

That brings us to India – and, by extension, China – which sit among the biggest buyers of Russian crude. Because of their sizable energy trade with Moscow, they quickly became focal points in the debate over how this law would be used. The act doesn’t impose a 100 % tariff on Indian goods outright; it simply creates a legal pathway for such a move should Washington deem it necessary.

In plain language, the United States now has the statutory authority to levy a full‑on, one‑hundred‑percent tariff on Indian imports if the President decides that India’s continued Russian energy purchases merit that level of economic pressure. Until then, the bill remains a potent, if unused, threat.

Critics argue that the measure could strain already delicate trade relations, while supporters claim it sends a firm message to Moscow and any country still playing ball with Russian energy exports. The real test, of course, will be whether the administration actually decides to pull the trigger, and how India – and the global market – respond if it does.

For now, the act stands as a reminder that geopolitics and trade are more intertwined than ever, and that a single piece of legislation can ripple across continents, affecting everything from oil prices to diplomatic talks.