Trump signs Russia sanctions bill, clearing way for 100% tariffs on India and China | Today’s news

US President Donald Trump signed the Russia-Iran Sanctions Act on Friday, which seeks to impose heavy tariffs on Moscow and its biggest energy buyers, such as China and India.

“On Friday, September 18, 2026, the President signed into law: HR 5334, the ‘Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,’ which authorizes and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs, and embargoes against Russia and expands existing sanctions against Iran,” the White House said.

The development comes days after the House of Representatives passed the Russia-Iran Sanctions Act, which seeks to impose sanctions on Russia’s leadership and energy sector — as well as collaborators in Moscow’s defense industry and its so-called shadow fleet.

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The law allows the president to impose up to 100% tariffs on countries, including India and China, that buy Russian oil and gas, expanding existing sanctions against Russia and Iran.

The sanctions are aimed at putting economic pressure on Russia by cutting off resources that support its ongoing war in Ukraine and encouraging countries to reassess their relations with Moscow.

Countries are exempt from tariffs if their imports of Russian gas are below 15% of total Russian exports and if they take significant steps to reduce those imports.

Indian policymakers face pressure to reassess their energy imports; however, experts suggest that India should prioritize its trade interests and deal firmly with the US.

Sanctions may strain US-India relations as India has expressed its intention to protect its trade interests, which could complicate ongoing trade negotiations.

The measure was the final legacy of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., a close ally and friend of the president who had just returned from Ukraine when he died unexpectedly in July. The bill, which has been in the works for more than a year, passed by wide bipartisan margins: 86-11 in the Senate and 262-159 in the House.

What is the Russian Sanctions Act?

The “Lindsey O. Graham Russia-Iran Sanctions Act of 2026” authorizes President Trump to impose up to 100 percent tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas, including China and India.

It directs Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, except for countries that import less than 15% of Russian natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.

The bill, also authored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., would sanction Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keep Russian energy flowing.

The law gives Trump a lot of discretion in implementation, including which countries face tariffs, the tariff rates imposed and whether to waive sanctions provisions.

A country is exempt from gas-related duties if its Russian gas imports accounted for less than 15 percent of total Russian exports during the relevant period and it has taken “significant steps” to reduce those imports.

The law will take effect within 30 days of the president’s signature and requires him to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods imported from countries that are the top five consumers of Russian oil or natural gas by total volume in the 12 months preceding its passage.

It is meant to starve Russian President Vladimir Putin of the resources Moscow needs to continue its war in Ukraine after invading its neighbor more than four years ago.

“I wish Lindsey was here…”

Senator Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, said in a statement Friday: “I wish Lindsey was here to celebrate this historic day. I know he would be so proud. Lindsey believed that this bill, which he had been working on for over a year, would help end the war by squeezing Putin economically and forcing his customers to rethink their relationship with Russia.”

Darline Graham was appointed to complete her late brother’s term in the Senate.

“If he were here today, he would be happy to see our bill passed — and he’s already thinking about the next one,” Blumenthal said of Graham after the House passed the bill Wednesday night. Blumenthal added: “Putin is a bully who understands only force and power, which is what we have to show clearly and unequivocally.”

Criticism

Despite overwhelming support on Capitol Hill, the legislation faced criticism from a vocal group of Democratic lawmakers who warned that Trump could use his new expanded tariff powers to impose new tariffs in the European Union and elsewhere.

“Why on earth would this Congress or the House of the People give this president unlimited authority to impose more tariffs on the world that will have an adverse economic impact on the American people?” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said as he voiced his opposition to the bill. “I can’t do it.

Graham’s path to getting Trump’s signature on the bill was full of fits and starts, as the White House had to be confident that the president would be able to maintain enough flexibility on sanctions. Trump ultimately gave the nod to the bill after it included his push for a five-year extension of existing sanctions on Iran.