Trump signs Russia sanctions bill, clears way for 100% tariff on India and China

On September 18, 2026, US President Donald Trump signed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which imposes steep levies on Russia and its energy buyers, including India and China. The legislation, H.R. 5334, authorizes and expands sanctions on Russia and extends existing sanctions on Iran. It allows the President to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that purchase Russian oil and gas, with the exception of those importing less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports.

The Act aims to economically pressure Russia by cutting off resources supporting its war in Ukraine and encourage countries to reassess their relations with Moscow. The bill passed with large bipartisan margins in both the Senate and the House. Sen. Lindsey Graham, the bill's primary sponsor, had been working on it for over a year and expressed pride in its passage.

However, some Democratic lawmakers criticized the legislation, warning that Trump could use the new tariff powers to impose fresh levies on other countries, potentially impacting the US economy.