Trump Gets New Russia Tariff Powers
A newly signed US sanctions law allows tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
US President Donald Trump has signed a new Russia sanctions law that gives him expanded authority to impose tariffs on countries buying significant amounts of Russian oil and gas. The legislation also targets countries that help facilitate sanctions evasion.
The law allows tariffs of up to 100% on the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas. It also provides for tariffs on the top five countries or entities identified as facilitating sanctions evasion.
The legislation was approved by the US Senate last month and passed the House of Representatives earlier this week before being signed by Trump on Friday. It is named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, following the death of Senator Lindsey Graham in July.
The new tariff authority comes after the US Supreme Court struck down Trump's earlier broad global tariffs in February, ruling that the law used at the time did not give the president authority to impose tariffs.
The new law could have implications for countries that continue buying Russian energy. India and China are among the major buyers of Russian crude, and India has said the new US tariff measures could affect bilateral ties and global energy markets. New Delhi has also maintained that it will continue sourcing energy from diverse suppliers to protect its energy security.
Reuters reported that the legislation gives the US president significant discretion because it does not specify which countries will ultimately face the tariffs. The measures are intended to increase economic pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine, while their potential impact extends to countries involved in Russian energy trade.