US sanctions law: Will India face 100 percent tariffs?

The US law signed on September 18 allows tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas.

It does not automatically impose tariffs on India.

The President has to decide whether to apply them and at what rate.

The list of buyers is reassessed every 180 days.

India says it will protect its trade interests.

India imported about 2.08 million barrels per day of Russian crude in August 2026, around 45 percent of its total imports.

In July 2026, Russian crude accounted for about 2.82 million barrels per day, or 56 percent of India’s imports.

India is the world’s third-largest consumer of crude oil.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it had taken note of the passage of the bill and was monitoring developments.

It said India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people through diversified sourcing and evolving market dynamics.

The ministry said India has made clear its determination to take all necessary measures to protect its trade and economic interests.

It added that the government will work closely with Indian trade and industry bodies to deal with the implications.

China has also opposed the law, calling it unilateral sanctions with no basis in international law.

Brent crude has been trading above 100 dollars a barrel in recent weeks, and markets remain sensitive to sanctions-related news.

President Donald Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 into law on Friday, September 18, 2026.

The law authorises tariffs of up to 100 percent on imports from the five largest purchasers of Russian crude oil and gas.

The list of the five largest purchasers is to be reassessed every 180 days.

The law does not automatically impose tariffs on India, and it leaves the decision on whether and at what rate to apply them to the President.

Essar Oil refinery, India (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0