MEA ‘monitoring developments’ of Russia sanctions bill in U.S. Congress
The US House of Representatives passed the "Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act" by a 262-159 vote on September 16, 2026, sending it to the President's desk after the Senate had cleared it 86-11 on August 7, 2026
The legislation authorises the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries identified as major buyers of Russian oil and natural gas, a category that includes India and China
India's Ministry of External Affairs stated it is monitoring developments on the bill and has taken necessary measures to protect its trade and economic interests
The MEA reiterated that ensuring energy security for India's population remains a priority, achieved through diversified sourcing amid evolving global energy markets
CAATSA (2017) — the original US secondary sanctions template
The Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is a US federal statute signed into law on August 2, 2017 (Public Law 115-44) that codified sanctions against Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Its Title II, Section 231 directs the US President to impose sanctions on any entity found to have knowingly engaged in a "significant transaction" with Russia's defence or intelligence sectors — the provision most relevant to India historically because of its 2018 S-400 missile defence deal with Russia.
Key Details
- CAATSA introduced the concept of "secondary sanctions" — penalising third countries (not just Russia) for transacting with sanctioned Russian entities
- A 2018-19 NDAA conference report created a modified waiver authority under Section 231, widely understood to accommodate partners like India
- Neither the first Trump administration nor the Biden administration made a formal Section 231 determination against India over the S-400 purchase, even though Turkey was sanctioned for an identical deal in 2020
- India has never been formally sanctioned under CAATSA
The new Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (2026) extends the secondary-sanctions logic of CAATSA from defence transactions to energy trade, explicitly empowering tariff action — rather than sanctions in the CAATSA sense — against countries buying Russian crude and gas.
How a US sanctions bill becomes law
Under Article I, Section 7 of the US Constitution, a bill must pass both chambers of Congress in identical form and be presented to the President, who may sign it into law or veto it (subject to a two-thirds override in each chamber). This bicameral-passage-plus-presentment process is structurally similar to how an ordinary bill becomes an Act of Parliament in India.
Key Details
- The Senate passed its version of the bill 86-11 on August 7, 2026; the House passed it 262-159 on September 16, 2026
- The bill was named for Senator Lindsey Graham, a lead sponsor of the original sanctions push, following his death in July 2026
- In India, an ordinary bill must be passed by both Houses of Parliament (Article 107) and receive Presidential assent (Article 111) — the President may return a bill once for reconsideration but must assent if it is passed again
- Unlike the Indian President's limited return power, the US President's veto can only be overridden by a two-thirds majority in both chambers
The bill's passage through both chambers before reaching the President's desk illustrates the same "bicameral plus executive assent" logic that governs how legislation is enacted in most presidential and parliamentary systems, including India's.
- Tariff ceiling authorised: up to 100% on goods from major buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas
- House vote: 262-159 (September 16, 2026); Senate vote: 86-11 (August 7, 2026)
- CAATSA enacted: August 2, 2017 (Public Law 115-44)
- India has never faced a formal CAATSA Section 231 sanctions determination despite the 2018 S-400 deal