By The European Times | Created at 2026-09-17 06:35:12 | Updated at 2026-09-17 09:27:10
2 hours ago
Measure heads to Trump with new pressure on Moscow’s energy trade and broad tariff powers
The US Congress has approved a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russia, its energy revenues and foreign networks supporting the war against Ukraine. The measure now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature, although its practical impact will depend heavily on how the White House uses new tariff and waiver powers.
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives approved the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on Wednesday evening, completing congressional consideration of a measure that had been delayed for more than a year.
The House agreed to the Senate-amended legislation by 262 votes to 159. It received support from 203 Republicans, 58 Democrats and one independent. Seven Republicans and 152 Democrats voted against it.
The Senate had passed the package by 86 votes to 11 in August. Trump is expected to sign the bill after his administration previously defended its tariff provisions as an important means of pressing Russia towards negotiations.
Sanctions reach beyond Russia
The legislation targets Russian political officials, oligarchs, financial institutions, state-controlled energy projects and companies connected to the country’s military-industrial base. It also reaches foreign actors accused of conducting significant transactions with sanctioned Russian institutions or helping Moscow evade restrictions.
Russia’s so-called shadow fleet is another focus. These tankers and associated companies move oil through opaque ownership, insurance and trading arrangements intended to reduce the effect of Western restrictions.
Under the published Senate-amended text, the president must increase duties on goods imported directly from Russia within 30 days of enactment. The rate can reach 500%, although the legislation does not require the maximum rate to be used.
A separate provision allows duties of up to 100% on goods from countries that remain among the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas. The same power applies to leading facilitators of Russian oil sanctions evasion.
The legislation does not name those countries in advance. Their identification will depend on trade data and determinations by the US administration, making implementation as important as the congressional vote itself.
Pressure comes with presidential discretion
The bill gives Trump a potentially powerful economic instrument, but it also leaves the president considerable discretion. Sanctions and tariffs can be waived following a written certification that doing so serves the US national interest.
That flexibility became the principal source of disagreement in the House. Supporters argued that secondary tariffs could force major purchasers to reconsider trade that helps finance Russia’s war. Democratic leaders and other critics said the measure grants the president excessive tariff authority while providing no guarantee that the strongest measures will be applied consistently.
The distinction matters for Ukraine. The bill can restrict Russian income and make sanctions evasion more expensive, but congressional passage does not automatically impose the highest available tariffs or determine how waivers will be handled.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had urged Washington to turn the proposal into law, arguing that Russia had adapted to earlier restrictions and that stronger measures were needed against its finances, missile production and energy economy.
Europe will watch the implementation
The American package could reinforce European efforts to limit Russian energy revenue, particularly if Washington and Brussels coordinate enforcement against shipping, financial and trading networks.
The European Union adopted its 21st sanctions package in July. Its measures build on previous action against oil intermediaries, the shadow fleet and actors connected to Russia’s military economy. As earlier European Times coverage reported, European enforcement also carries maritime, insurance and environmental consequences.
However, the US tariff powers could create friction if implementation affects allied countries or companies without close consultation. European governments will therefore be watching which states Washington identifies, what tariff rates it selects and how exceptions are applied.
The next decisive step belongs to Trump. His signature would give the administration a larger sanctions arsenal, but the strength and fairness of the policy will be measured by its use: whether it closes evasion routes, protects cooperation with allies and places meaningful pressure on those sustaining Russia’s war rather than simply creating another broad field of presidential discretion.
