On Wednesday, September 16, the US House approved a comprehensive sanctions package aimed at Russian officials and major sectors of the Russian economy, as lawmakers seek to cut off President Vladimir Putin from the financial means to continue the war in Ukraine.
The measure also includes sharply increased tariffs on countries that trade with Russia in oil and gas, such as India and China.
The legislation bears the name of the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who devoted over a year to its negotiation. It passed the House by a 262-159 margin and now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature into law.
The measure sanctions Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keeps Russian energy moving.
It instructs President Trump to levy tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India, while exempting nations that purchase less than 15% of Russia’s natural gas exports and have made substantial efforts to cut those imports.
This marks the first instance of India being explicitly mentioned in such a Bill in the United States. The other countries facing the imposition of 100% duties are Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, the UAE, Singapore, Kazakhstan, and the Kyrgyz Republic.
Last year, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian products while New Delhi persisted in purchasing Russian crude oil at discounted rates. The tariff was later withdrawn as negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations progressed.
Russia continues to be India’s biggest supplier of oil.
These nations must decide whether they will keep supporting Putin’s aggression," said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas.
In total, 58 Democrats split from Jeffries and supported the bill, while 152 opposed it. On the Republican side, 203 lawmakers voted in favor and seven voted against.
