Will Trump Impose 500% Tariffs on India After Backing Russia Sanctions Bill?

A proposed US bill targeting buyers of Russian oil could have serious economic consequences for India, including steep tariffs, export losses, and job cuts, according to foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdeva.

The legislation, backed by US Senator Lindsey Graham, seeks to tighten pressure on Russia by penalising countries and companies that continue to engage with sanctioned Russian oil producers.

Sachdeva pointed out that two of Russia’s largest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, are already under American sanctions. Any company dealing with these entities risks facing punitive measures from the US.

“Any company buying from Rosneft or Lukoil could face sanctions of its own kind,” he said, warning that such measures could include asset freezes, visa restrictions and exclusion from international banking systems such as SWIFT.

Under the proposed bill, the US administration would be empowered to impose extreme trade penalties. If companies in India or China are identified as buyers of sanctioned Russian oil, they could face tariffs as high as 500 percent, along with additional sanctions.

Sachdeva noted that the bill gives wide discretionary powers to the US president, allowing selective enforcement against specific countries or companies.