US House Moves Russia Sanctions Bill Granting Trump 100% Tariff Powers

The US House of Representatives has cleared a procedural hurdle on the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, setting up a final vote on the measure that would hand President Donald Trump broad new authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.

The procedural motion passed 214-211 on Tuesday evening, with two Democrats joining Republicans in support. A final House vote is expected on Wednesday, after which the bill would go to the President for his signature. The chamber is preparing for an early recess on Thursday and is due to reconvene on November 9 following the midterm elections.

The Senate had passed the legislation on August 7 by 86-11. Beyond the tariff provisions, the bill would impose sanctions on Russia's leadership, its energy and defence sectors, and the so-called "shadow fleet" of vessels accused of helping Moscow evade existing oil-shipment restrictions.

The Senate version does not name specific countries, referring instead to the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas by volume. India and China are among the countries identified as potential targets of the secondary tariff measures.

Democratic divisions

The legislation has exposed rifts among Democrats, including lawmakers who have backed Ukraine but oppose expanding Trump's tariff powers. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, argued the measure would grant unchecked tariff authority without adequate safeguards. He was joined by Don Beyer, the top Democrat on Congress's Joint Economic Committee, and Richard Neal, the ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, in warning that the bill could do more harm than good.

The three lawmakers said the legislation would significantly expand presidential tariff powers while falling short of making sanctions against Russia mandatory. They contended the provisions could raise prices for Americans and weaken long-term support for Ukraine.

Neal said his opposition stemmed from concerns over how Trump has previously used tariffs against US partners, including Canada and Mexico. He questioned what protections would remain afterward and said the expanded authority could potentially allow Trump to take a tougher position towards Ukraine.

Efforts to narrow scope

Negotiations have been under way among Democrats to limit the number of countries that could face secondary sanctions. Representative Steny Hoyer, a co-sponsor of the bill, proposed an amendment naming 10 countries that could be subject to the measures: China, India, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, Slovakia and the United Arab Emirates.

The bill has also drawn opposition from Republicans sceptical of continued US involvement in Ukraine, making Democratic support important for passage in the House. The issue has caused disagreements within the Democratic caucus. During a meeting this week, California Democrat Linda Sánchez criticised party members who backed efforts to change the bill, saying Democrats should support Ukraine while questioning whether Trump should receive greater tariff powers.

Ukraine presses for passage

Ukrainian officials and pro-Kyiv groups are watching the legislation closely. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the US to increase economic pressure on Russia and urged lawmakers to pass the sanctions bill, noting in a nightly address on Monday that the measure remained a bill rather than a law. Vitaly Kim, Ukraine's minister of veterans affairs, also backed greater economic pressure on Russia, saying on the sidelines of the Ukraine Action Summit in Washington DC on Saturday that sanctions restricting Russia's economy could help end the war.

The summit, organised by the American Coalition for Ukraine, has seen pro-Ukraine groups lobby US lawmakers for continued support for Kyiv. Supporters of the legislation argue that curbing Russia's oil revenues would reduce the resources available to Moscow for its war against Ukraine.