{
  "id": 7893469,
  "title": "US Congress passes bill targeting Russia’s leading energy buyers – China and India",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-congress-passes-bill-targeting-russias-leading-energy-buyers-china-7893469",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T22:50:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3367782/us-congress-passes-bill-targeting-russias-leading-energy-buyers-china-and-india"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "The US Congress on Wednesday passed a bill to strengthen sanctions on Russia by targeting Moscow’s leading energy buyers – China and India – just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to arrive in Washington for a bilateral summit with President Donald Trump. The US House of Representatives cleared the “Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026” by a 262-159 vote, making…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RNZ Business",
        "title": "India free trade agreement edges closer after Parliament passes legislation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/india-free-trade-agreement-edges-closer-after-parliament-passes",
        "published": "2026-09-16T22:14:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Axios",
        "title": "House passes Russia sanctions bill",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill",
        "published": "2026-09-16T22:30:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "US House passes Russia sanctions bill; path cleared further for 100% tariffs on India",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-path-cleared-further-for-100",
        "published": "2026-09-16T22:40:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "US Congress passes bill targeting Russia’s leading energy buyers – China and India",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-congress-passes-bill-targeting-russias-leading-energy-buyers-china",
        "published": "2026-09-16T22:50:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "US Congress Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, India, China Face 100% Tariffs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-congress-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-india-china-face-100-tariffs",
        "published": "2026-09-16T23:04:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "US House passes Russia sanctions bill, sending it to Trump – What it means for tariffs on India?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/us-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-sending-it-to-trump-what-it",
        "published": "2026-09-17T00:30:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Congress passes sweeping US sanctions bill targeting Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/congress-passes-sweeping-us-sanctions-bill-targeting-russia",
        "published": "2026-09-17T00:55:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "House passes two anti-fraud bills; what it means for states - all you need to know",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/house-passes-two-anti-fraud-bills-what-it-means-for-states-all-you",
        "published": "2026-09-17T02:25:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}