- The U.S. Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill seeking 100% tariffs on India and four other countries.
- The bipartisan bill was championed by Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away on July 11, and Democrat Richard Blumenthal.
- After Graham's death, his sister Darline Graham, appointed to his seat, said the bill forces countries to choose between doing business with America or buying cheap Russian energy.
- The bill seeks sanctions on Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, oligarchs, and financial institutions.
- Some Democrats, including Gregory Meeks and Don Beyer, criticised the bill for giving President Trump sweeping new tariff powers that could be weaponised.
The U.S. Senate's recent passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 aims to impose 100% tariffs on India, China, and three other nations that are the top importers of Russian oil and gas. The bill, approved by an 86-11 vote, seeks to penalize these countries for their role in supporting Russia amid its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.1
The legislation allows President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on goods from the top five importers, which currently include China, India, Azerbaijan, Hungary, and Slovakia. This move is seen as a critical step in holding Russia accountable for its actions, as emphasized by Darline Graham, the late senator's sister, who stated, “This bill forces those primary 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.”34
In addition to sanctions on Russia, the bill extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031, targeting companies investing in Iran’s energy sector. However, some Democrats have raised concerns about the bill granting Trump new tariff powers, warning it could lead to further economic strain on Americans. Congressmen Gregory Meeks and Don Beyer criticized the legislation, stating, “This bill would not achieve those goals. Instead, it would allow President Trump to dodge holding Russia accountable and impose yet more tariffs in his destructive trade wars.”678
The bipartisan effort reflects a renewed commitment to support Ukraine and punish Russia, particularly following Graham’s death, which galvanized lawmakers to act swiftly in his honor.
“The bill also extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031, penalizing companies investing in Iran's energy sector. Some Democrats, including Gregory Meeks and Don Beyer, criticized the legislation for granting President Trump sweeping new tariff powers that could be weaponized.”
