US Congress passes bill targeting Russia’s leading energy buyers – China and India

The US Congress has recently voted in favor of a bill that aims to strengthen sanctions on Russia by targeting its leading energy importers, primarily China and India, just before Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to arrive in Washington for a bilateral summit with President Donald Trump. The "Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026" passed the House of Representatives with a 262-159 vote and the Senate with an overwhelming 86-11 vote.

The legislation, which was championed by late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, allows President Trump to impose up to 100% tariffs on the five largest importers of Russian oil and natural gas, thereby expanding his preferred tactic of using tariffs to maximize leverage and retribution. While the bill does not explicitly name the purchasers of Russian energy, it is expected to target major buyers such as China and India.

The bill also imposes additional measures on Russia's energy and defense sectors and its fleet of tankers used to bypass existing sanctions, while introducing more sanctions on Iran. This move by Congress comes as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng prepare to hold their final preparatory talks this weekend ahead of Xi Jinping's visit to Washington next week.

Both sides are expected to finalize the expected economic outcomes, which may include tariff reductions on agricultural trade and extending the fragile trade truce reached in October 2023. The Russia sanctions bill adds another layer of economic pressure on China and other major buyers as Washington presses them to sever commercial ties with Iran under its "Operation Economic Outcast" sanctions campaign.