DistantNews
Support us
US Senate passes bill for up to 100% tariffs on Russian oil buyers
🇴🇲 Oman /Economy & Trade

US Senate passes bill for up to 100% tariffs on Russian oil buyers

From Times of Oman · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The US Senate passed a bill allowing up to 100% tariffs on goods from countries buying Russian oil and gas, aiming to cut Russia's war funding.
  • India, a major importer of Russian crude, faces potential economic repercussions if tariffs are imposed on its exports to the US.
  • Experts advise India to strategically reduce its reliance on the US, suggesting the current tensions may signal a long-term shift in bilateral relations.

The US Senate has overwhelmingly passed a bill that could impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from nations purchasing Russian oil and gas. Lawmakers stated the legislation aims to curb Russia's funding for its ongoing war in Ukraine. The bill, named the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, passed with an 86-11 vote.

The US has been taking these kinds of actions.

— Sushant SareenForeign affairs expert Sushant Sareen commented on the US's past actions regarding tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil.

This development poses significant challenges for India, a major importer of Russian oil. Since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022, India has increased its purchases of discounted Russian crude, which has become a vital alternative for its refiners amid global energy market disruptions. If the US imposes 100% tariffs on Indian goods, they would become considerably more expensive for American buyers, potentially driving them to seek other suppliers.

Generally, what we have seen is that these kinds of bills have opt-out clauses, where the president can certify that it is not going to implement this particular law simply because it’s not in the American national interest. Now, they would certainly have that opt-out clause.

— Sushant SareenSushant Sareen explained the potential for presidential discretion in implementing the new tariffs.

While the bill does not automatically enact tariffs, it grants US President Donald Trump the discretion to impose them. Foreign affairs experts are urging India to begin "de-risking" from the United States, viewing the mounting economic tensions as a potential permanent shift in bilateral relations rather than a temporary issue. They also criticized the legislation for its extraterritorial application of US laws.

Will the Americans impose the same law on China of a 100% tariff?

— Sushant SareenSushant Sareen questioned the universal application of the proposed tariffs, specifically regarding China.

Expert Sushant Sareen noted that while Trump previously imposed a 25% tariff on India for buying Russian oil, future measures could be more severe. He pointed out that such bills often include opt-out clauses for the president if implementation is not in the US national interest. However, Sareen questioned whether the US would apply similar tariffs to China, anticipating retaliation. He stressed that India should abandon the notion that current friction is fleeting, suggesting it signals a more permanent breach in relations, though economic ties would not disappear entirely.

And chances are that they will not because the Chinese will retaliate...

— Sushant SareenSushant Sareen predicted that the US might not apply the same tariffs to China due to potential retaliation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Times of Oman in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog