Senate Russia Bill Targets India, China at 100% Tariffs
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- Senate advanced the "Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026" in an 86-12 vote this week, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy watching from the gallery during the late Senator Graham's funeral
- The bill authorizes tariffs of up to 100% on the top five purchasers of Russian energy (including China, India, and Türkiye) and up to 500% on direct Russian imports, which totaled $3.8 billion in 2025
- Trump ordered lawmakers to add Iran tariff authority to the bill Wednesday, which analysts say risks losing Democratic support because expanded powers would target Chinese purchases of Iranian oil
- Critics including Senator Maggie Hassan and the US Chamber of Commerce argue the tariffs would be passed to American businesses and consumers rather than weakening Russia
- Legal analysts note the bill's new IEEPA-based legislation could give Trump's tariffs more staying power than his earlier ones struck down by the Supreme Court in February
- India has already secured US sanction waivers to keep buying Russian oil after the Strait of Hormuz shutdown disrupted its energy diversification plans
Why it matters: If enacted, the bill restores Trump's tariff authority on a legally durable footing — new IEEPA legislation — months after the Supreme Court struck down his earlier tariffs in February. China and India face the sharpest trade-off, choosing between discounted Russian energy and access to US markets, while Trump's Wednesday demand to add Iran complicates the bill's path through a House now in recess.
