Overview
- The U.S. Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act by a wide margin on August 7, 2026, and the measure now heads to the House of Representatives.
- The law would let the president order tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian crude or gas and authorize punitive duties on Russian-origin imports while extending Iran sanctions through 2031.
- The bill gives the president broad waiver power that requires only a written national-interest certification and a report to Congress, and it narrows some earlier proposals by capping maximum tariffs and adding limited exemptions.
- Key practical questions remain because the U.S. Trade Representative must set rates and sequencing, courts could review the new authority after prior IEEPA-based tariffs were struck down, and House members from both parties have raised objections.
- If enacted, the measure could reshape global energy flows and trade ties by pressuring buyers such as India and China to reduce Russian imports, while also risking higher costs for U.S. consumers, diplomatic strain with partners, and legal or enforcement fights.