Trump signs Russia sanctions bill into law — SkimNews
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Trump signed H.R. 5334, the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," into law on September 18, 2026, two days after the House passed the bill
- The legislation authorizes tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries among the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil or natural gas by total volume over the preceding 12 months, naming China and India as targets
- A gas-related carve-out exempts any country whose Russian gas imports accounted for less than 15% of Russia's total exports during the applicable period and that has taken "significant steps" to reduce those imports
- The law goes into effect within 30 days of signing and targets Russia's "shadow fleet," including vessel owners, operators, managers, and insurers involved in sanctions evasion or supporting Russian energy production
- Trump retains wide discretion over implementation — which countries face tariffs, what rates apply, and whether sanctions provisions are waived — giving him leverage to negotiate or punish as he chooses
- Zelenskyy thanked Trump and Congress on September 19, saying the best way to honor the late Senator Lindsey Graham's memory would be to implement the law "fully and as quickly as possible"
Why it matters: The law hands Trump a 100% tariff weapon against China and India — Russia's two largest oil buyers — but the 15% gas-import threshold, "significant steps" exemption, and broad waiver authority mean implementation is entirely a political choice. With the bill taking effect within 30 days, the real test is whether Trump uses the leverage to choke Russian revenue or negotiates carve-outs with New Delhi and Beijing.
Ask SkimNews
