Anchor
Congress moves to tariff the biggest buyers of Russian oil
Rule ChangesA sanctions bill named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham would let the president raise tariffs on China and India over their Russian energy purchases.
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Overview
China and India have spent more than four years buying discounted Russian oil, helping keep money flowing to Moscow's war in Ukraine. On August 7, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to punish them for it. The vote was 86 to 11.
The measure lets the president slap tariffs of up to 100% on the top buyers of Russian oil and gas. It also adds sanctions on Vladimir Putin, senior Russian officials, banks, and the fleet of reflagged tankers Russia uses to dodge existing limits. It still needs the House, which returns in September.
Why it matters
If it becomes law, the president could hit the biggest buyers of Russian oil with tariffs up to 100%, raising the price of goods from China and India.
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Key Indicators
86–11
Senate passage vote
Final Senate tally on August 7, 2026, well past the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.
100%
Maximum tariff allowed
The bill lets the U.S. trade representative set a tariff anywhere from 0% to 100% on top Russian-energy buyers.
5
Top buyers exposed
Tariffs can target the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas by volume.
80+
Senate cosponsors
The earlier Graham-Blumenthal version drew more than 80 cosponsors, split evenly between the parties.
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Congress moves to tariff the biggest buyers of Russian oil
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People Involved
Organizations Involved
Timeline
April 2025 August 2026
6 events
Latest: Today
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-
Senate passes the bill, 86-11
Today VoteThe Senate gives final approval and sends the measure to the House, which returns from recess in September.
-
Senate advances the bill on funeral day
VoteHours after Graham's funeral, the Senate votes 86-12 to move the bill forward. Rand Paul is the lone Republican opposed.
-
Revised bill introduced and renamed for Graham
LegislationSenators file the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, giving the president discretion to set tariffs from 0% to 100%.
-
Lindsey Graham dies at 71
DeathGraham dies of an aortic dissection hours after returning from Kyiv, where he said a deal had been struck to advance the bill.
-
House passes its own Ukraine and Russia measure
LegislationThe House approves Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions, defying Trump and Republican leaders and adding pressure on the Senate.
-
Graham and Blumenthal introduce the sanctions bill
LegislationThe bipartisan pair unveils a bill calling for tariffs of at least 500% on countries buying Russian oil, gas, and uranium.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
July-August 2017
CAATSA Russia sanctions (2017)
Congress passed the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which forced new sanctions on Russia over election interference and Ukraine. The Senate vote was 98-2, enough to override a veto. President Trump signed it while calling it flawed.
Then
Trump signed the bill but issued a statement objecting that it limited his diplomatic flexibility.
Now
His administration was later criticized for slow-walking parts of the law, showing how a president can drag his feet even on mandatory sanctions.
Why this matters now
The same tension is back: Congress wants tough penalties on Russia, while the White House wants control over how and when they are applied. This time senators wrote in that discretion up front.
December 2011
Menendez-Kirk Iran oil sanctions (2011-2012)
Congress attached sanctions to the annual defense bill that targeted foreign banks dealing with Iran's central bank over oil purchases. The aim was to force countries like China, India, and Japan to cut how much Iranian crude they bought.
Then
Major buyers reduced Iranian oil imports to keep access to the U.S. financial system.
Now
The pressure helped push Iran toward the 2015 nuclear talks and set the template for using secondary sanctions to change third countries' behavior.
Why this matters now
The Graham bill uses the same logic against Russia: punish the buyers, not just the seller. China and India are again the main targets.
January 1975
Jackson-Vanik Amendment (1974)
Congress tied normal trade relations with the Soviet Union to its treatment of Jewish citizens seeking to emigrate. Lawmakers overrode the White House's preference for quiet diplomacy and wrote the condition into law.
Then
The Soviet Union canceled a trade deal in protest, straining relations.
Now
The provision stayed on the books for decades and became a model for Congress using trade as a lever over foreign conduct.
Why this matters now
It shows Congress reaching into trade policy to shape another country's behavior, the same instinct behind tariffs on Russian oil buyers.
Sources
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