The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that targets Russian officials, banks and the country’s energy trade, while giving President Donald Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India.The ‘Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’ passed 262-159 and now heads to Trump, who is expected to sign it into law, reported Reuters.For India, the legislation allows creating a new legal route for Washington to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on Indian imports over New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian energy. India and China are among the biggest buyers of Russian crude, and the tariff provision is intended in part to put pressure on countries that continue to support Russia’s energy revenues.The measure directs the president to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the five largest importers of Russian oil or natural gas. It includes an exception for countries that import less than 15 per cent of Russia’s natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those purchases.
What the Russia sanctions bill does
The legislation expands sanctions against Russian officials and financial institutions and targets vessels in Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, which has helped keep Russian energy exports moving despite existing Western restrictions.Its tariff provisions are aimed at using access to the US market as leverage against countries that continue to purchase Russian energy. Supporters have specifically pointed to China and India as major targets of the measure.The bill is named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who spent more than a year negotiating the sanctions package. It also includes measures targeting Iran and extends existing sanctions on the country for five years.Trump’s backing was important to the legislation’s progress after he had previously criticised efforts to provide further US support to Ukraine. Graham eventually secured Trump’s support after the package incorporated the president’s push for an extension of Iran sanctions.The legislation comes after Trump has repeatedly criticised countries including India over its purchases of Russian crude and accused New Delhi of helping finance Moscow’s war in Ukraine.If enacted and subsequently used by Trump, the new authority could give the administration another mechanism to raise the cost of Indian goods entering the US market because of India’s Russian energy purchases.The bill does not itself impose a 100 per cent tariff on Indian goods. Rather, it gives the US president the authority to impose such tariffs under specified conditions.Supporters of the provision say the threat is intended to discourage major economies from buying Russian energy and reduce the revenues available to Moscow to finance its war.“These countries have a choice to make about whether they will continue to sustain Putin’s aggression,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas.
Democrats divided over tariff powers
The legislation drew opposition from some Democrats, who supported continued backing for Ukraine but raised concerns about giving Trump broad authority to use tariffs against US allies.Critics argued that the tariffs could ultimately raise prices for American consumers, while also allowing the administration to target European countries and other US partners.“This president has always said he loves tariffs,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y. “And we know the history of what he’s done with reference to tariffs to our European allies, and our allies everywhere.”Democratic lawmakers were also divided over whether passing the bill would strengthen US support for Ukraine or give Trump powers that could be used in ways they oppose.“If we fail to pass this bill, there will be cheers in the Kremlin and tears in Kyiv,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md.Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., meanwhile, warned that supporters of the legislation could later regret backing it if Trump used its tariff and sanctions provisions against US allies.“Yes they will be able to say ‘we stood with Ukraine’ in the immediate aftermath,” Beyer said. “But when Donald Trump hits our allies with new tariffs and waives sanctions on Russia, the propaganda victory for Putin will be lasting, and the damage will be embedded in U.S. law.”Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would continue to support Ukraine but argued that the legislation did not provide a clear route to securing the country.
Senate had already passed the bill
The Senate approved the legislation by an overwhelming 86-11 vote on August 7, but action subsequently slowed in the House amid disagreements over its tariff provisions.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had pushed for congressional approval of the sanctions package and appealed to House lawmakers before Wednesday’s vote.“During the war, it is sometimes better to make a not-so-perfect decision than to do nothing,” Zelenskyy said in a social media post ahead of the vote.The House passage marks the most significant congressional action in support of Ukraine since Trump returned to the White House, after lawmakers had struggled to maintain momentum for further US funding and military assistance to Kyiv.The legislation now goes to Trump for his signature. Once enacted, the administration will have additional sanctions and tariff powers to pressure Russia and countries continuing to trade in Russian energy.