Published 6 days ago • loading... • Updated 4 days ago
US House passes sanctions, tariff bill to raise economic pressure on Russia
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in a 262-159 vote, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Spearheaded by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, the bill aims to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine; negotiations took over a year, with Trump eventually backing the package after Iran sanctions were added.
Authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil and gas, the act also targets Russian officials, banks, and the 'shadow fleet' of tankers used to circumvent sanctions.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries argued the bill grants 'unfettered authority' for tariffs, while India reaffirmed its commitment to energy security through diversified sourcing following the vote.
Passage comes just before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington next week, though the bill's effectiveness depends on the administration's willingness to enforce provisions against major trading partners China and India.