US lawmakers pass bill giving Trump more power to sanction Russia and its enablers

The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved a bill championed by late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham that imposes tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas. The bipartisan legislation grants President Donald Trump the authority to impose these tariffs on the five largest buyers of Russian energy and five nations assisting Moscow in evading energy sanctions.

While the bill passed the Senate in early August, it faced stronger opposition in the House, with some Democrats fearing it would grant Trump excessive authority over tariffs without effectively sanctioning Russia. The House nevertheless advanced the bill in a procedural vote on September 15, after two Democrats crossed party lines to support the legislation.

The bill targets countries importing Russian energy products, including China, India, Turkey, and the European Union. These countries would be reviewed every 180 days, with exemptions for those importing less than 15% of Russia's total natural gas exports and actively reducing their imports. Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior officials, major financial institutions, and energy projects would also be subject to sanctions.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine urged U.S. lawmakers to pass the bill, emphasizing the need for strong personal decisions from President Trump.