U.S. lawmaker submits amendment naming India in Russia sanctions act

Racing against time, U.S. lawmakers submitted amendments to the Russia sanctions Bill, with one seeking to name its top trading partners — including India — in the legislation, and another proposing to scrap the section imposing tariffs altogether.

Also Read | U.S. Senate passes Russia sanctions bill that seeks 100% tariffs on India, four others

The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, passed by the U.S. Senate by an overwhelming 86-11 vote last month, seeks to impose sanctions not only on Russia’s leadership and energy sector but also on the “shadow fleet” of vessels that enable Moscow to evade sanctions on oil deliveries.

The U.S. believes that Russia’s crude oil trade is funding the war against Ukraine. The Bill also seeks to authorise President Donald Trump to impose 100% tariffs on Russia’s top oil trading partners, including China and India.

The Bill passed by the U.S. Senate on August 7 does not name Russia’s trading partners but does mention the five largest importers of oil and gas by volume.

The House of Representatives must pass the bill before sending it to the President for signature. The House has four working days left before it breaks into early recess ahead of the midterm elections on November 3.

The amendment moved by Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer seeks to name China, India, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, the UAE, Singapore, Kazakhstan, and the Kyrgyz Republic as countries eligible for 100% duties.

Interestingly, Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks, who is staunchly opposed to granting more tariff-levying powers to Mr. Trump, has moved an amendment to scrap the entire Section 113 that seeks to grant authority to the President to impose broad secondary tariffs on Russia’s trading partners.

The amendment moved by Meeks has three co-sponsors.

The amendments to the Russia sanctions act were made public by the House Rules Committee on Monday (September 14, 2026).

Another amendment moved by Meeks seeks to allow the President to waive the sanctions applicable to a foreign person for a period of 90 days, with a provision for renewal for additional periods of 90 days, if it is “vital to the national security of the US.” Meeks has also moved an amendment seeking to authorise $15 billion in direct loans to Ukraine for financing the procurement of defence articles and services.