New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has made a surprising announcement regarding India, one that stands to benefit both Indian businesses and the general public. Specifically, there will no longer be any tariffs imposed on the purchase of oil and gas from Russia. President Trump has announced an exemption for India from tariffs on Russian oil imports. In addition to India, four other countries have also been exempted from these tariffs.
This decision pertains to restrictions originally established under the ‘Lindsey O. Graham Act’ (formerly known as the act concerning sanctions on Russia and Iran). These countries have been granted an exemption based on US national interests. President Trump has clarified that these five nations will not be required to pay any duties when purchasing energy from Russia.
Which countries are on the list?
Along with India, the list includes China, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan. Citing national interest, the US President announced exemptions from the sanctions, restrictions, and tariffs imposed under the legislation concerning Russia and Iran. In an executive order issued on Friday evening, President Trump announced these exemptions from the measures mandated by the ‘Graham Act.’ He stated that this decision was made with US national interests in mind.
What does the ‘Graham Act’ say?
President Trump has exercised his authority under Section 115 of the ‘Graham Act’ to grant exemptions from the imposition of sanctions, restrictions, and tariffs. According to the executive order, the President is empowered under this section to waive the application of such measures against foreign entities.
To do so, the President must submit a written certification to the US Congress, justifying the exemption on the grounds of national interest. President Trump affirmed that this exemption is being granted in the national interest of the United States. What did Trump say in his order?
In his order, Donald Trump also conveyed an important message. He stated that he had submitted a certification to Congress, in which he described this exemption,n given the current circumstances, es as being in the national interest of the United States.
On September 19, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a bill titled the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.” This bill targets five countries that purchase significant amounts of crude oil from Russia: China, India, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan.
It is worth noting that a few days ago, Donald Trump had announced the imposition of tariffs on oil purchases from Russia. However, the decision to waive these tariffs for five countries,ies including India,ndia regarding their purchases of oil and gas from Russia points to shifting dynamics on the global stage.
