The US House of Representatives has advanced legislation that would give President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on India and other countries that purchase Russian oil and gas, while also extending existing sanctions against Iran.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 passed a key procedural vote in the House on Tuesday evening after two Democratic lawmakers joined Republicans in supporting the measure.
The motion to advance the Russia sanctions bill, alongside several other pieces of legislation, passed by 214 votes to 211, in a result that caught House Democratic leaders off guard.
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Lawmakers are expected to hold a final vote on the bill on Wednesday.
Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, voiced his opposition to the legislation on Monday, arguing that it would give Trump broad powers to impose tariffs without sufficient restrictions.
The US Senate approved the bill last month by an 86-11 vote. Beyond targeting Russia’s leadership and energy industry, the legislation would also impose sanctions on vessels operating as part of the so-called “shadow fleet”, which is accused of helping Moscow circumvent sanctions on oil exports.
The House vote comes as groups supporting Ukraine intensify lobbying efforts in Washington in an attempt to maintain US backing for Kyiv.
The Ukraine Action Summit, organised by the American Coalition for Ukraine, is currently taking place in Washington, where advocates are meeting with members of Congress to push for continued US assistance to Ukraine.
US officials have argued that revenue from Russia’s crude oil exports is helping finance its war against Ukraine. The proposed legislation would therefore allow Trump to impose 100 per cent tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil, including China and India.
Although the version of the bill approved by the Senate on August 7 does not specifically identify Russia’s trading partners, it refers to the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas by volume.
The legislation must still pass the House before it can be sent to Trump for his signature. The House is scheduled to begin an early recess on Thursday and is not expected to return until November 9, following the midterm elections.
Source: Outlook
