The U.S. House of Representatives voted 262–159 on September 16 in Washington to pass the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, sending the sanctions and tariff legislation to the president. The Senate had already approved the measure by 86–11 on August 7, completing the principal congressional votes required before presidential action. The bill expands sanctions targeting Russia while giving the president additional tariff authority over countries heavily involved in purchases of Russian energy.
The provision drawing the most attention in global trade markets is the authority for tariffs of up to 100%.
The legislation directs the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas, or countries ranked among the five largest facilitators of Russian oil sanctions evasion, subject to provisions contained in the bill.
Reuters identified China and India among the major Russian energy buyers that could potentially be affected.
The distinction between authorization and implementation is important: the bill’s passage does not mean that a new 100% tariff has already been imposed on Chinese, Indian or other goods.
The measure must first become law. Any subsequent tariff action would depend on how the authority is implemented, including the countries selected, the tariff level chosen and applicable statutory conditions.
The bill includes exemptions in some circumstances.
Countries whose imports of Russian natural gas account for less than 15% of Russia’s total natural-gas exports, and that are taking significant steps to reduce those purchases, may qualify for an exemption under the legislation.
The measure also expands sanctions directly targeting Russia.
Covered areas include Russian officials, oligarchs and related persons, banks and financial institutions, the defense sector and the so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to move Russian energy outside existing sanctions channels.
Iran is also included in the legislation. The bill extends the Iran Sanctions Act for another five years, maintaining U.S. sanctions authority related to financing of Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
The House vote drew support from most Republicans and a group of Democrats, while other Democratic lawmakers opposed the measure.
Supporters said the legislation was designed to reduce revenue available to Russia from energy sales and strengthen economic pressure on Moscow. Opponents raised concerns that the bill grants the president broad new tariff authority and includes national-interest provisions that could allow parts of the sanctions regime not to be applied.
Fifty-eight House Democrats joined most Republicans in supporting the bill, producing the final 262–159 vote.
As of September 17 in Beijing, the legislation had been sent to the president. No across-the-board 100% tariff on Russian-energy-buying countries had automatically taken effect solely because of the congressional vote.
