The US Senate passed the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on Aug. 7 with an 86‑11 vote, authorizing President Trump to levy tariffs of up to 100 % on imports from the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas. The measure now moves to the House for consideration.
The bipartisan bill, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham who died on July 11, also retains authority for up to 500 % tariffs on direct Russian oil and gas imports. It targets countries such as India, China and Turkey, with the list of top buyers reviewed every 180 days and exemptions for nations importing less than 15 % of Russia’s gas and actively reducing those imports.
If enacted, the tariffs would double the cost of goods from the listed buyer nations, pressuring US importers to seek alternative suppliers and tightening the financial squeeze on Russia’s energy revenues. The legislation also aims at Russia’s shadow fleet, major banks and state‑owned energy firms, further constraining Moscow’s ability to fund the war in Ukraine.
The three reports differ on the scope of the tariff regime: one emphasizes only the discretionary 100 % tariffs on buyer‑country goods, another highlights a separate 500 % tariff on Russian imports, while a third notes the original 500 % proposal was revised to focus on the 100 % measure for the top five energy purchasers.