The bill, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, passed the House on September 16 with a 262 to 159 vote, following Senate approval on August 7. It now awaits President Trump's signature to become law.
The legislation targets the top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas, authorizing tariffs as high as 100 percent on their exports to the United States. Exceptions exist for countries that import less than 15 percent of their natural gas from Russia and are taking "significant" steps to reduce those imports.
India imported the second-largest volume of Russian oil as of August 2026, behind only China, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. That leaves both Asian giants exposed to significant trade penalties under the Act.
Senator Richard Blumenthal publicly remarked that China and India "better clean up their act" and buy oil and gas "somewhere else." The bill also includes provisions for sanctions against Russian officials and Moscow's shadow fleet of vessels.
The Act's passage tests India's balancing act between maintaining its energy relationship with Russia and preserving its strategic partnership with the United States. New Delhi has not yet issued an official response to the impending legislation.