Washington:
The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan bill that gives President Donald Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that are among the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas — a list that includes India, China, Azerbaijan, Hungary, and Slovakia. The bill was approved by an overwhelming 86-11 vote.
A Bill Renamed in Tribute
The legislation has been renamed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who championed the bill alongside Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal before his sudden death on July 11 following a trip to Kyiv. Following the vote, Blumenthal said Graham “would be proud of what we’ve done,” describing the measure as “sledgehammer sanctions and tariffs” aimed at those complicit in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Darline Graham, the late senator’s sister who was appointed to fill his Senate seat, said the bill forces countries “keeping Russia’s economy afloat to make a simple yet critical choice — a choice between doing business with America or buying cheap Russian energy.”
Scaled Back from Earlier 500% Proposal
The Senate-approved version is notably less aggressive than earlier drafts of the bill, which had proposed tariffs of up to 500% on goods from countries buying Russian energy. The final bill gives Trump discretionary power to impose tariffs of up to 100% — still a significant escalation — on the top five importers of Russian oil and gas, while also including a provision allowing the president to grant countries a one-time waiver based on national security interests.
What Else Is in the Bill
Beyond the tariff provisions, the legislation targets Russian President Vladimir Putin, oligarchs, and financial institutions with direct sanctions. It also extends the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to 2031, expanding measures against Iran’s energy, shipping, and financial sectors.
What’s Next
The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives, which is set to reconvene on August 31. Washington has argued that continued purchases of Russian energy by countries like India and China help fund Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine; India has previously said its energy purchases are guided by its own national interest and energy security needs, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said India’s concerns have been directly shared with U.S. lawmakers on the issue.
Note: This report is based on official Senate proceedings and statements from lawmakers available at the time of publication. The bill’s final provisions could still change as it moves through the House of Representatives.
