Better clean up your act : US warns India, China after 100% tariff raise

The United States issued a blunt warning to India and China on Wednesday, September 16, with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal saying both countries needed to stop buying Russian oil, after the US House passed a bill giving President Donald Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major buyers of Russian energy.

"To China and India: you better clean up your act. Buy your oil and gas somewhere else. Appeasement is not a strategy," Blumenthal said after the vote.

The House passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by 262-159, sending it to Trump for his signature. The Senate had already passed it 86-11 in August. Under the bill, Trump can impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the biggest buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, a list that includes India and China, currently the two largest importers of Russian crude.

Blumenthal's remarks add to growing pressure in Washington on both countries over their continued energy trade with Moscow. India has repeatedly defended its Russian oil purchases as necessary for its energy security, and has pushed back against what it calls unfair, selective targeting, since China, the larger buyer, has often escaped similar tariff pressure from the Trump administration.