Trump signs sanctions bill allowing 100% tariffs on India and China as Russia turns to Africa for oil sales

Donald Trump signed the Lindsey Graham Sanctions bill, which grants the U.S. President authority to impose tariffs up to 100% on any country purchasing Russian oil, targeting major buyers like India and China. As Western markets shrink, Russia is pivoting toward Africa, where Egypt recorded €513 million in Russian fossil fuel purchases in August, becoming the continent's leading client. Moscow is simultaneously bolstering its military logistics network linking Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, according to a C4DS investigation that logged 75 supply flights between January 2025 and July 2026.

Indian industry body CITI urged the Indian government to negotiate with Washington, warning that steep tariffs would hit the textile and apparel sector hard. Recent incidents involving Russian tankers, such as the Progress and Arctic Metagaz, highlight the challenges of moving oil and LNG through contested routes like the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean.