2 min readUpdated: Sep 17, 2026 07:57 AM IST
The Russia Sanctions Bill, which grants the US President unprecedented powers to levy 100% tariffs on nations buying oil from Moscow, has cleared the final hurdle. The US House of Representatives passed the bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia on Wednesday. The legislation, officially titled the ‘Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’, received 262-159 votes in its favour. President Donald Trump is now expected to sign it into a law.
The measure gives President Donald Trump new authority to slap duties of up to 100 percent on foreign nations, including India and China, that purchase Russian oil and natural gas.
Political friction over tariff executive power
The bill previously passed the Senate with 86:11 votes in its favour, but was stalled in the House due to disagreements over expanding Presidential economic authorities. While 58 Democrats broke rank to join the Republican majority, official Democratic leadership strongly opposed the Bill’s expanded tariff provisions.
House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said that broad tariff waivers and enforcement loopholes leave the powers open to misuse without ensuring guaranteed enforcement against Moscow, reported The Guardian. Meanwhile, Representative Richard Neal said in his address, “What we’re not for is giving more tariff authority to this President.”
On the other hand, House Speaker Mike Johnson hailed the Bill’s passage. He said it applies “maximum pressure on the Russian war machine” by cutting off energy revenue streams.
What the Russia Sanctions Bill provides for
The passage of the Russia Sanctions Bill reflects the first major pro-Ukraine measure passed by Congress in over two years. It aims to disrupting Moscow’s energy revenues and closing enforcement loopholes.
It grants the US President discretionary power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major foreign buyers of Russian crude and natural gas.
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It imposes targeted sanctions on vessels, logistical entities, and maritime operators used to transport discounted Russian oil below market caps.
It also provides for penalising high-ranking Russian leadership, state officials, banking institutions, and energy sector enterprises.
While not directly imapcting the Middle East conflict, the Russia Sanctions Bill broadens existing enforcement mechanisms against Iran’s military and energy trade.
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