U.S. Congress Seeks to Authorize Trump to Impose Up to 100% Tariffs on Countries Importing Russian Energy
Taylor Wilson
The US Senate voted 86–12 to advance a Russia sanctions bill that, if enacted, would let the president impose up to 100% tariffs on the five largest importers of Russian energy — potentially hitting India, China, and the EU — with almost no congressional check.
What does this bill actually do?
The Lindsey O. Graham Russia Sanctions Act of 2026 empowers the US Trade Representative to set tariffs at any rate from 0% to 100% on the top five importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas.
The critical detail: the president needs only to notify Congress — no justification, no second authorization required.
This means → if the bill passes, the White House gets what amounts to a tariff weapon with almost no safety catch — whom to target and how hard is the president's call alone.
Why does Trump need Congress to hand him a new tool?
Trump's existing tariff instruments have been struck down one after another. The Supreme Court ruled his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to levy broad tariffs unlawful; Treasury has refunded importers roughly $100 billion.
The administration then turned to Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, but that provision caps tariff size and duration and has been blocked by a lower court.
Its latest basis is Section 301, invoking retaliation against forced-labor practices in some of the world's wealthiest countries — but Axios reports the rationale is considered legally thin, and companies have already sued.
In plain terms = Trump's old tools are being dismantled by the courts one by one. This bill is Congress handing him a replacement that stands on firmer legal ground.
Is this bill really just about the Russia–Ukraine war?
The bill text contains no clause tying the tariff authority to the Russia–Ukraine conflict or any other specific geopolitical objective.
This means → legally, the president could use this authorization to tax Russian-energy importers for reasons entirely unrelated to the war — making it, in effect, a general-purpose tariff power wrapped in sanctions language.
The bill also tightens sanctions on Russia and Iran and slaps a 500% tariff on US imports linked to Russia's sanctions-evading "shadow fleet" tankers.
What are the critics saying?
Jonathan Finer, former principal deputy national security adviser, told Axios: "The starting point of the bill is obviously right — the war won't end unless Putin faces enough pressure. But the details matter enormously."
He added: the bill grants no sanctions authority the president doesn't already have, while giving him an opt-out waiver — and simultaneously handing him the power to impose up to 100% tariffs on US allies and partners, largely at his own discretion.
In plain terms = the core concern isn't sanctioning Russia itself — it's that the bill opens too wide a door for the president, nominally aimed at Moscow but practically a tool that can be turned on allies.
What does this mean for markets?
Whether the bill passes in its current text remains the key variable — a procedural Senate vote is not final legislation; full floor votes and a House process still lie ahead.
If enacted, India, China, and the EU would face tariff risk of up to 100%, directly reshaping global energy trade flows.
This reflects a deeper shift: US tariff power is moving from executive-order-driven to congressionally legislated — the latter is far harder for courts to overturn, which for markets means the uncertainty lasts longer.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.