India, Sept. 17 -- As the US House of Representatives cleared a bill posing a threat of up to 100% tariffs on India, China and other countries, a senator backed the proposal, saying a "strong message" was needed for countries buying Russian oil.

"We need to send a very strong message, not just to Vladimir Putin, but to anybody who is buying Russian oil and gas, that they are going to pay a price for that," said Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen on Thursday after the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 bill cleared the House.

The act, which will grant the Trump administration the authority to place tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the five top purchasers of Russian oil and gas, was passed in the US House of Represent...