CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Trump Shields India From Tariff Threat Over Russian Oil Purchases
New Delhi. The immediate threat of US tariffs of up to 100 percent on India over its purchase of oil and gas from Russia has receded for now. US President Donald Trump has decided to halt the implementation of some provisions linked to Russia-related sanctions and tariffs. The move comes at a time when global energy markets remain under price pressure and several countries, including India, depend on Russian oil to meet their energy needs.
Tariff threat over Russian energy purchases recedes. Under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, 2026, passed in the US in September 2026, the Trump administration was authorised to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries buying oil and gas from Russia. Major energy importers such as India and China could also have come under the scope of this provision. However, through an executive order issued on October 16, Trump has, for now, blocked the implementation of some restrictive provisions of the law. The US administration has described the decision as being linked to national interest. With this, the immediate threat of proposed additional duties on countries buying energy from Russia has reduced.
Why India may get relief. India meets a large share of its crude oil requirement through imports. Russia has been among India’s major oil suppliers in recent years. If an additional US tariff of up to 100 percent had been imposed on Indian products, it could have affected the competitiveness of Indian exports to the US. With the tariff threat easing, India has received immediate relief on the trade and energy policy fronts. However, this does not mean that all India-US trade disputes have ended or that duties cannot be imposed in the future.
Global oil market is also a key factor. A rise in energy prices can affect transport, production and ordinary consumers. Strict restrictions on supplies from Russia could also affect the quantity of oil available in the global market and its prices. In this context, the US administration’s decision is also being viewed in relation to concerns over energy supply and domestic prices.
What will be the impact on India-US relations? India has long maintained that it gives priority to its energy security and national economic interests. The temporary halt to US tariff-related provisions could create an opportunity to reduce trade tensions between the two countries. Even so, the situation ahead will depend on decisions by the US administration, the terms of sanctions and talks between the two countries. Overall, Trump’s latest decision has removed, for now, the immediate threat of proposed additional tariffs on India over its purchase of oil and gas from Russia. But it would not be appropriate to treat this as a permanent exemption from all possible sanctions. In the coming period, attention will remain on US policy and India’s energy purchase strategy.
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