US House Passes Russia Sanctions Bill with 100% Tariffs on India and China

The US House of Representatives has passed a Russia sanctions bill that includes imposing 100% tariffs on countries like India and China. The bill now awaits President Donald Trump's signature to become law, marking a significant escalation in US sanctions policy against Russia and its allies.

The legislation targets Russia's energy and defense sectors, as well as President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials. It aims to pressure countries that continue to support Putin by imposing steep tariffs on their imports to the United States. Experts note that the bill maximizes the president's authority to impose new import taxes while minimizing the obligation to enforce new sanctions on Russia or its enablers.

Senator Lindsey O Graham described the act as the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, emphasizing that countries have a choice to either sustain Putin or face consequences. He warned that failure to pass the bill would result in cheers in the Kremlin and tears in Kyiv. However, he also acknowledged that during war, sometimes imperfect decisions are better than inaction.

Critics point out that while the bill allows the US to say it stood with Ukraine, new tariffs and waived sanctions could give Putin a lasting propaganda victory embedded in US law. The bill's passage by the House follows the Senate's approval, signaling strong congressional support despite concerns about its impact on trade relations with India, China, and other nations.