Lindsey Graham Act Moves to US House With 100% Tariff Power
The US House is set to vote on the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which would give President Donald Trump authority to impose additional tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy. The Senate has already passed the bill, while Ukraine has pushed for its passage to increase pressure on Russia.
In a Nutshell
- The Senate passed the bill 86 to 11 on August 7 after Lindsey Graham negotiated the package with the Trump administration.
- The bill targets Russian officials, banks, oligarchs and the shadow fleet, while extending existing Iran sanctions through 2031.
- It would allow Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas and countries helping Russia evade sanctions.
- The House advanced the bill 214 to 211 on September 15 and is scheduled to vote on final passage on September 16.
- A House amendment proposed specifically naming India, China and eight other countries as eligible for the additional tariffs, but the Rules Committee rejected the amendment for consideration.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has backed the bill and urged US lawmakers to increase economic pressure on Russia.
Context
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act would tighten sanctions on Russia by targeting its political officials, oligarchs, banks and financial institutions, as well as the shadow fleet used to transport Russian oil. It would also extend existing US sanctions on Iran through 2031, including restrictions on its energy and weapons sectors.
The Senate version does not automatically impose a 100% tariff on any country. If enacted, it would give Trump the authority to impose an additional tariff of up to 100% on countries that meet the bill's conditions.
The House amendment proposed by Representative Steny Hoyer would have specifically named India, China and eight other countries as eligible for the tariffs. The Rules Committee rejected that amendment on September 14, along with another proposal to remove the secondary tariff provision altogether. Graham had been working with the White House on the package before his death this July. The Senate then passed it on August 7, 2026, and Zelenskyy backed the measure during his Washington visit, saying stronger sanctions could reduce the money financing Russia's war. Ukraine continued lobbying for the legislation as it moved to the House.
Why It Matters
The bill creates a new way for Washington to pressure Russia through the countries that buy its energy. The immediate significance for India is that its purchases of Russian crude could become linked to access to the US market, even though India is not a party to the war. The House amendment that would have explicitly named India was rejected, but the underlying Senate provision still covers the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas.
What We Think
A 100% tariff need not be imposed for the law to matter: once that authority exists, countries buying Russian energy have to account for the possibility that Washington could use US market access as leverage.
That puts the policy on a different footing from sanctions aimed directly at Russia. It makes the commercial decisions of countries such as India part of US policy toward the war, while leaving the final decision on whether to impose the economic penalty with the White House.
For Bangladesh, there is no direct target in the bill's current text. Bangladesh is not among the countries proposed in the rejected House amendment.