New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has suspended the implementation of sanctions and tariffs linked to Russian exports that threatened to impose duties of up to 100% on imports from India and other major buyers of Russian crude oil. The decision provides temporary relief to New Delhi, with the measures due to take effect on October 18.
In an executive order issued on Friday, Trump said the waiver was in the national interest of the United States. The decision suspends the immediate implementation of the proposed restrictions but does not permanently remove the possibility of imposing them in the future.
The measures were linked to the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, signed by Trump last month. The legislation gave the US President 30 days to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from major purchasers of Russian crude, including India, China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan. It also provided for additional sanctions against Russian entities and potential 500% tariffs on imports of Russian energy products.
The law was designed to restrict Moscow’s financial resources amid its ongoing war against Ukraine. It targeted Russian officials, banks and energy interests, while authorising penalties against foreign countries and entities continuing business with Russia.
By threatening steep tariffs, Washington sought to discourage countries from purchasing Russian oil and gas and increase economic pressure on the Kremlin.
The proposed 100% tariffs could have significantly affected Indian exporters by increasing the cost of Indian goods entering the US market. The potential duties would have come amid a series of trade tensions between the two countries over India’s purchases of Russian crude.
In February 2026, the additional 25% tariff previously imposed on Indian imports over Russian oil purchases was removed, while the reciprocal tariff was reduced to 18% under a US India trade framework.
India has consistently maintained that protecting energy security for its 1.4 billion people remains a priority. New Delhi has also emphasised the importance of diversified energy sourcing and has communicated the implications of its Russian oil trade to American officials.
The waiver comes amid Trump’s continued engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump recently announced an arrangement involving Russian diesel supplies to the United States. Zelensky criticised the deal, arguing that continued energy cooperation could benefit Moscow while the war in Ukraine continues.
The latest decision offers India temporary relief from the threatened tariffs, although the possibility of future US action remains open.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
