US reviews Russia sanctions waiver as India tariffs remain paused, giving New Delhi temporary relief from possible duties tied to Russian energy purchases. Marco Rubio says Washington will use a 60-day period to assess economic effects as India continues diversifying its crude supplies.
Russia sanctions waiver review
The Trump administration is reviewing how to apply a new sanctions law targeting Russia and major buyers of Russian energy before deciding whether additional tariffs should take effect.
President Donald Trump has temporarily waived key provisions of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which allows tariffs of up to 100% on goods from major importers of Russian oil and gas.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration intends to use the 60-day review period to examine how additional sanctions and tariffs could affect both the global economy and the United States. The assessment comes as conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine continue to place pressure on international energy markets.
India Russian oil imports
India is among the countries most closely affected because it continues to purchase substantial quantities of Russian crude oil.
Rubio acknowledged that India has been diversifying its energy portfolio but cannot replace Russian supplies overnight. He also described India as an important US ally and partner, signalling that Washington is balancing pressure on Moscow with its strategic relationship with New Delhi.
India has consistently maintained that its energy purchases are guided by national interest, affordability and supply security. Indian officials have also highlighted efforts to diversify crude supplies while warning that rapid changes could create additional pressure on domestic energy costs.
Rubio India visit
The sanctions review comes as Rubio prepares for another visit to India. He is expected to travel to Mumbai and Jamnagar and hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Energy security, trade, investment, defence and wider India-US relations are expected to feature prominently in the discussions. The possibility of secondary tariffs linked to Russian oil could become a significant issue as both governments seek to expand strategic and economic cooperation.
The visit comes at a sensitive moment, with Washington and New Delhi strengthening ties in several areas while still managing disagreements over trade and energy policy.
Europe secondary tariff dispute
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also criticised European governments for declining to support earlier American proposals for secondary tariffs on India and China over Russian energy purchases.
Bessent argued that the United States should not bear the economic cost of putting additional pressure on Moscow alone while European countries continue purchasing Russian energy in various forms.
The disagreement highlights the difficulty of using energy sanctions without disrupting global markets. Tougher restrictions on major Russian energy buyers could reduce Moscow's revenues, but they could also increase crude prices and create additional costs for consumers worldwide.
December 15 review deadline
The 60-day review period is expected to run until around December 15, giving Washington time to assess energy markets, Russian export flows and the economic consequences of imposing new tariffs.
The timing also places the decision close to the G20 summit in Florida, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend.
For India, the waiver provides temporary relief from potentially severe US tariffs. For Washington, the review will test whether it can increase pressure on Russia without damaging relations with a major strategic partner or adding fresh instability to global energy markets.
The final decision will therefore be closely watched in New Delhi, Moscow and other capitals that depend heavily on Russian energy.
