The Congress on Wednesday asked Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to clarify the Centre’s position after a bipartisan group of United States senators introduced a bill proposing 100% tariffs on imports from India and four other countries for purchasing Russian oil.Apart from India, the proposed legislation would apply to China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan, PTI reported.It exempts 15 European countries that continue to purchase Russian gas, with the legislators arguing that those imports make up only a small share of their energy needs. They also said that the countries were reducing their dependence on Moscow.On Wednesday, Congress leader Pawan Khera said that Goyal, who had earlier dismissed reports that India was holding out for a better trade deal with the US, should “clarify this”.Khera highlighted that the proposal came from Republican senators backed by US President Donald Trump rather than House Democrats.“Imagine the humiliation: needing Trump’s approval to buy Russian oil, and now being threatened with punitive tariffs for doing exactly that,” added the Congress leader.@PiyushGoyal, who is quick to dismiss reports that India is holding out for a better trade deal with the US, should clarify this.These aren't House Democrats. These are Republican Senators - backed by Trump himself - demanding 100% tariffs on India and four other countries for… pic.twitter.com/3s1uvkMxtQ— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 ಪವನ್ ಖೇರಾ (@Pawankhera) July 15, 2026