500% tariffs on India? About the Russia sanctions bill that Trump has 'greenlit'
India, China and Brazil are expected to come under scrutiny under the proposed legislation, echoing Trump’s earlier warnings to BRICS nations over their economic ties with Russia.
US President Donald Trump has "greenlit" a sweeping bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia and its trade partners, including India, as part of renewed efforts to end the Ukraine war through intensified economic pressure on Moscow.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump has approved the proposed legislation, which would significantly expand sanctions not only on Russia but also on countries continuing trade with Moscow, particularly those purchasing Russian oil.
"After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill," Graham told reporters. "I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week."
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Graham said the bill would empower Trump to "punish countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin's war machine."
India, China and Brazil are expected to come under scrutiny under the proposed legislation, echoing Trump's earlier warnings to BRICS nations over their economic ties with Russia.
What does the bill propose?
The proposed legislation, titled the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, aims to impose sanctions on individuals and countries deemed by the US president to be acting on Russia's behalf or obstructing efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The bill outlines four conditions under which sanctions may be imposed:
- Refusing to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine
- Violating a negotiated peace agreement
- Initiating another invasion of Ukraine
- Overthrowing, dismantling or attempting to subvert the Ukrainian government
If triggered, the bill mandates the president to impose a range of penalties, including visa restrictions and tariffs of up to 500%.
It also directs the US Treasury Department to impose property-blocking sanctions and instructs the Commerce Department to ban the export, re-export or in-country transfer of US-produced energy or energy products to or within Russia.
Implications for India
India is already facing elevated US tariffs. In August 2025, Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil as "fueling the war in Ukraine."
This came on top of an earlier 25% tariff announced during Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" trade measures, bringing the total tariff on Indian goods to 50%, placing India alongside Brazil among the countries facing the highest US tariffs.
With the start of 2026, Trump has hinted at the possibility of further tariff hikes on India due to its continued imports of Russian oil.
"Modi is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. He added that India continues to trade with Russia and that the US "can raise tariffs very quickly."
If the proposed bill is passed, Trump would be required to raise tariffs to at least 500% on all goods and services imported into the United States from countries that knowingly engage in the trade of Russian-origin uranium and petroleum products.
