Key facts
- Bill would impose 500% tariff on countries trading with Russia
- India is a major buyer of discounted Russian crude oil
- Trump has reportedly backed the sanctions legislation
- India-US trade relationship would be directly at risk
President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind a Russia sanctions bill that could impose a 500% tariff threat on India, according to NDTV, marking a sharp escalation in US pressure on countries maintaining economic ties with Moscow.
India has been one of the most significant beneficiaries of discounted Russian crude oil since Western sanctions were imposed following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russian oil now accounts for a major share of India's total crude imports, and New Delhi has also maintained long-standing defence procurement ties with Moscow. A 500% tariff regime targeting such trade would deal a severe blow to Indian exporters trying to access the American market.
The bill puts India in an acutely uncomfortable position. New Delhi has consistently argued for strategic autonomy and resisted Western pressure to isolate Russia, citing its own national interest and historical ties. But with the US now India's largest trading partner, the prospect of punishing tariffs creates enormous economic leverage that Washington could deploy.
Diplomatic channels between New Delhi and Washington will be under considerable strain. India has been navigating a careful balancing act — deepening its strategic partnership with the US through QUAD and defence deals, while refusing to abandon its Russian energy lifeline. The advancement of this bill forces that balance into a more explicit and costly choice.