The Indian National Congress has requested Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to clarify the Centre's stance following a bipartisan US Senate proposal to impose 100% tariffs on imports from India and four other nations for purchasing Russian oil.

The legislation, backed by Republican senators aligned with former President Donald Trump, targets countries that continue to buy Russian energy, excluding 15 European nations that still import Russian gas.

The proposal comes amid allegations that India's oil purchases from Russia support the war in Ukraine, though New Delhi maintains its energy security needs justify the imports.The US previously imposed a 25% punitive tariff on Indian oil imports, which was reduced to 18% after an interim trade deal.

Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized the move, highlighting the political sensitivity of the issue and the potential embarrassment of being penalized for energy procurement decisions.

The bill marks a first for the US Congress in using tariffs as a geopolitical tool against countries accused of funding conflicts through energy trade.