Trump gains a tariff weapon against China and India. Will he use it?

NEW DELHI, INDIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit in New Delhi, India on September 12, 2026.Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump can now impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing oil from Russia, putting China and India squarely in the crosshairs. The U.S. House on Wednesday passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill, paving the way for Trump to tariff major purchasers of Russian energy. The move comes close on the heels of the BRICS Summit, where Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders from the Global South, including China and India, condemned unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions, without naming the U.S.All five top purchasers of Russian energy will be "extremely worried" about the potential application of this bill, said Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at Hinrich Foundation. The new statutory authority could give Trump the power to "strike hard and quickly at any time for any reason." China and India would be most exposed, as both have leaned heavily into discounted Russian crude since the Ukraine war broke out in 20...