US lawmakers move amendments to Russia sanctions bill naming India

The brief

Context

The US Congress is processing a Russia sanctions bill, officially the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which would empower President Donald Trump to sanction Russia's leadership, energy sector and the "shadow fleet" of vessels used to evade oil sanctions, and to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Russia's top oil trading partners. The Senate passed it 86-11 on August 7; the version it cleared does not name any country but refers to the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas by volume. The bill must now clear the House of Representatives before going to Trump for signature. The House Rules Committee has made public a set of proposed amendments, two of which pull in opposite directions — one naming India and nine other countries, another deleting the tariff section entirely.

Key facts

• The bill is officially named the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act.
• The US Senate passed the bill by 86-11 on August 7.
• Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer's amendment names China, India, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, the UAE, Singapore, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic as eligible for 100 per cent duties.
• Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks has moved an amendment to scrap Section 113 entirely, the provision granting the President authority to impose broad secondary tariffs on Russia's trading partners.
• The Meeks amendment to delete Section 113 has three co-sponsors.
• Another Meeks amendment would let the President waive sanctions on a foreign person for 90 days, renewable for further 90-day periods if 'vital to the national security of the US'.
• A further Meeks amendment seeks to authorise $15 billion in direct loans to Ukraine to finance procurement of defence articles and services.
• The House has four working days left before early recess ahead of the midterm elections on November 3.

Timeline

1. August 7US Senate passes the Russia sanctions bill 86-11; the text does not name Russia's trading partners but refers to the five largest importers of oil and gas by volume.
2. Monday (local time)House Rules Committee makes the proposed amendments to the Russia sanctions act public, according to PTI.
3. UpcomingHouse has four working days left before early recess; bill must pass the House before going to Trump for signature.
4. November 3US midterm elections, ahead of which the House breaks into early recess.

Who has a stake

• India — Named in the Hoyer amendment as eligible for 100 per cent duties over its purchases of Russian oil.
• President Donald Trump — Would receive authority under Section 113 to impose broad secondary tariffs and sanctions on Russia's trading partners.
• US House of Representatives / House Rules Committee — Must pass the bill and decide which amendments reach the floor, with only four working days left.
• Congressman Steny Hoyer (Democrat) — Seeks to name ten countries, including China and India, in the legislation.
• Congressman Gregory Meeks (Democrat) — Opposes granting more tariff-levying powers to Trump; wants Section 113 scrapped, waivers allowed and $15 billion in loans to Ukraine.
• Russia — Its leadership, energy sector and 'shadow fleet' of oil-carrying vessels are targeted by the sanctions.
• Ukraine — Stands to receive $15 billion in direct US loans for defence procurement if that amendment is adopted.

Why it matters

If the Hoyer amendment survives, India would be written by name into US law as a country liable for 100 per cent duties, converting a discretionary presidential power into an explicit legislative target. The outcome will shape whether India's purchases of Russian crude become a codified trade penalty or remain a matter of executive discretion, and it directly affects India-US trade and strategic ties.