U.S. Senate Revises Russia Sanctions Bill, Cuts India Tariff Threat To 100%

The U.S. Senate has introduced a revised version of the Russia sanctions legislation that lowers the proposed tariff ceiling on countries purchasing Russian energy to 100% from the 500% level included in the earlier draft.

The revised bill would also limit the tariff provision to the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas. Senator Richard Blumenthal said at a press conference in Washington that the countries identified as major purchasers include China, India, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.

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The legislation is an updated version of the Sanctioning Russia Act, which was first introduced in April 2025. The earlier proposal had threatened tariffs of up to 500% on countries that knowingly bought Russian oil, natural gas, uranium and other petroleum products.

India Remains Within Scope Of Proposed Measure

India’s inclusion in the list of major Russian energy buyers keeps the country within the potential reach of the revised tariff provision. The bill, however, is narrower than the original proposal, both in the maximum tariff rate and the number of countries that could face the measure.

The revised legislation also provides an exemption for countries that purchase less than 15% of Russia’s natural gas exports and are taking meaningful steps to reduce those imports. Senate aides said the provision could benefit countries including Japan, France, Hungary and Belgium. The bill has 26 co-sponsors, with further support expected, according to Senate aides.

Wider Sanctions Target Russia’s Energy And Financial Sectors

Beyond tariffs, the proposed legislation includes additional sanctions targeting parts of Russia’s energy, defence, financial and industrial sectors. The measures would also target Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and major state-backed energy projects, including Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG projects.

The proposal would give U.S. President Donald Trump authority to waive sanctions if he determines that doing so is in the national interest of the U.S.

Earlier Bill Had Proposed 500% Tariffs

The original 2025 legislation had proposed duties of up to 500% on goods and services imported from countries that knowingly purchased Russian oil, natural gas, uranium or other petroleum products. The proposal was aimed at countries such as India, China and Brazil, which continued buying Russian crude after Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow.

A separate provision in the earlier proposal also called for a 500% duty on imports from countries that knowingly engaged in the exchange of Russian-origin uranium and petroleum products.

The revised bill represents a significant reduction in the proposed tariff ceiling, but the final impact on India will depend on the legislation’s progress through Congress, the final text approved and any waiver decisions made by the U.S. administration.