President Donald Trump’s waiver of new Russia-related duties has reduced India’s potential tariff exposure as Washington pursues a trade deal that Secretary of State Marco Rubio says is close.
Speaking in Uzbekistan on Oct. 19, Rubio said the United States was close to finalizing a trade agreement with India. He said trade negotiations were one consideration in national-security waiver decisions. Trump signed the order three days earlier, and the document neither names India nor mentions the talks.
The Oct. 16 waiver of new Russia measures came before an Oct. 18 trigger for duties tied to certain new purchases of Russian-origin oil and gas. Reuters and the Hindustan Times reported that India was among the five largest importers of Russian oil. The waiver therefore eases a potential risk for India; the order does not identify which countries would have faced the duties.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, enacted Sept. 18, authorized duties of up to 500% on goods from Russia. Its provision for duties of up to 100% on goods from energy buyers applies to the five largest importers of Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas during a specified 12-month period if they knowingly made new purchases beginning Oct. 18. A separate branch covers the five leading countries facilitating evasion of Russian oil sanctions.
The White House order waived those duties under Sections 112 and 113, as well as specified sanctions and restrictions under the law. It says Trump submitted a national-interest certification and report to Congress, as the law requires for a waiver. No end date is specified: Trump or the secretary of state may revisit the waivers after the consultations described in the order. Earlier executive-order measures addressing the declared national emergency over Russian government activities are unaffected.
Reuters reported that further cuts to India’s Russian oil imports to avoid U.S. tariffs could strain public finances or raise fuel prices ahead of regional elections. The order directs the U.S. Trade Representative to monitor Russian oil and gas purchases and report developments that may call for further action.
News on AIR reported that Rubio was scheduled to meet India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mumbai on Oct. 20.
