India said it is closely tracking developments in the United States over a proposed legislation that could allow Washington to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries importing Russian oil and gas. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said New Delhi remains engaged with American authorities while continuing to prioritise the country’s energy security.
Speaking at the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the government is monitoring the progress of the proposed legislation after it secured approval in the US Senate. “We are closely monitoring the developments,” Jaiswal said.
Reiterating India’s long-standing position on energy procurement, the MEA stressed that the country’s decisions are guided by national interest and the need to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies for its population. “On energy security, our position has been clarified and very well articulated on several occasions. It is something which is predicated on our national priorities and on securing the energy needs of our 1.4 billion people through diversified sources, which includes the US,” Jaiswal said.
The spokesperson also said that India is maintaining regular communication with the United States over the proposed measure. “We remain engaged with relevant stakeholders in the US at various levels on this particular matter,” he added.
The statement comes after the US Senate passed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 with an 86-12 vote, sending the legislation to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
If approved and signed into law, the Bill would authorise US President Donald Trump to impose both primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and entities supporting Moscow. It would also empower the US administration to levy tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from countries purchasing significant quantities of Russian oil and gas or allegedly helping Russia bypass existing sanctions.
According to the proposed legislation, countries identified as major importers of Russian energy—including India, China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan—could face punitive trade measures under specific provisions of the Bill. The legislation also proposes a review mechanism requiring the US Trade Representative to reassess major buyers of Russian energy every 180 days, with tariff levels subject to change based on import patterns.
India has consistently maintained that its energy purchases are based on economic considerations, energy security and the country’s domestic requirements, while continuing to diversify its sources of crude oil imports.
