Trump's Russia Sanctions Bill Clears House, India and China on Target List

The US House of Representatives has advanced a bill that would give President Donald Trump sweeping new powers to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas. The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 cleared a key procedural hurdle in the House on Tuesday evening.

With two Democrats joining Republicans to approve the measure, taking the vote in favour to 214:211.

Bill Would Impose Sanctions Targeting

The bill would impose sanctions targeting Russia's leadership, energy and defence sectors, as well as its so-called "shadow fleet" of vessels accused of helping Moscow circumvent existing sanctions on oil shipments. It would also authorise Trump to impose 100 per cent tariffs on major purchasers of Russian oil.

While the Senate version does not specifically name Russia's trading partners, it refers to the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas by volume.

India and China are among the countries identified as potential targets of the secondary tariff provisions. The legislation has exposed divisions among Democrats, including lawmakers who backed Ukraine but opposed expanding Trump's authority to impose tariffs.

Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, pointed out against the measure, saying it would give Trump unchecked tariff authority without sufficient safeguards.

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Meeks Along Don Beyer Top

Meeks, along with Don Beyer, the top Democrat on Congress's Joint Economic Committee, and Richard Neal, the ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, said the legislation could ultimately "do more harm than good". They argued that the Bill would expand Presidential tariff powers in a big way but would fall short of making sanctions against Russia mandatory.

Neal said the opposition was based on concerns about how Trump has previously used tariffs against US partners, including Canada and Mexico. "I just feel that the abusive nature of these tariffs, the way he's used them to drive away friends across the globe, what is our protection afterwards?" Neal said in an interview on Monday.

The bill is expected to face a final House vote on Wednesday. If approved, it would then be sent to Trump for his signature. The US Senate passed the legislation on August 7 by an overwhelming 86-11 vote.

Supporters of the legislation argue that restricting Russia's oil revenues would reduce the resources available to Moscow for its war against Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the US to increase economic pressure on Russia and urged lawmakers to pass the sanctions bill. "Lindsey Graham's sanctions Bill is still a Bill, unfortunately, and not a law," Zelenskyy said in a nightly address on Monday.

Vitaly Kim, a member of Zelenskyy's cabinet and Ukraine's minister of veterans affairs, also backed greater economic pressure on Russia. Speaking on the sidelines of the Ukraine Action Summit in Washington DC on Saturday. Kim shared sanctions aimed at restricting Russia's economy could help end the war.

The issue has led to disagreements among House Democrats. During a meeting this week, California Democrat Linda Sánchez criticised members of her party who supported efforts to change the bill, saying Democrats should support Ukraine while questioning whether Trump should receive greater tariff powers.

The bill would impose sanctions targeting Russia's leadership, energy and defence sectors, as well as its so-called "shadow fleet" of vessels accused of helping Moscow circumvent existing sanctions on oil shipments. It would also authorise Trump to impose 100 per cent tariffs on major purchasers of Russian oil.

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The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 was introduced in the House last month. With the aim of increasing pressure on Russia over its actions in Ukraine. The bill has been a subject of intense debate among lawmakers.

The legislation would authorise Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, including India and China. It would also impose sanctions targeting Russia's leadership, energy and defence sectors.

The US Senate passed the legislation on August 7 by an overwhelming 86-11 vote. The bill would impose sanctions targeting Russia's leadership, energy and defence sectors, as well as its so-called "shadow fleet" of vessels accused of helping Moscow circumvent existing sanctions on oil shipments.

The issue of Trump's tariff powers has been a contentious one in the US. The President has used tariffs to impose pressure on countries over various issues, including trade and security.

The bill would restrict Russia's oil revenues, reducing the resources available to Moscow for its war against Ukraine. Supporters of the legislation argue that this would help end the conflict.