KABUL (Pajhwok): The US House of Representatives has passed legislation giving President Donald Trump greater authority to impose sanctions on Russia and tariffs of up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian energy, including China.
The legislation, known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, was approved by the House in a 262–159 vote on Wednesday, according to The Guardian. The bill had previously passed the Senate by 86–11 votes last month.
Under the legislation, new sanctions would be imposed on Russian political and military officials, as well as foreign networks accused of helping Russia supply its war effort or circumvent existing sanctions.
The bill also targets Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, which The Guardian reported has enabled Moscow to continue exporting crude despite sanctions on its energy sector.
The legislation would give Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from major purchasers of Russian energy, including China, as well as countries that assist Moscow in evading sanctions.
The measure faced opposition from some lawmakers in Congress, including Democrats and members of the Republican Party’s isolationist wing. Critics warned that the expanded tariff authority could potentially be used against US allies and could cause economic harm in the United States.
Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the House, opposed the legislation. During debate, he questioned why Congress should give the president additional authority that could cause economic harm to Americans and said he would vote against the bill.
Supporters of the legislation argued that the measure would increase economic pressure on Russia and restrict financial resources that support its war effort in Ukraine. The Ukrainian officials and supporters of the bill welcomed the legislation as a means of increasing pressure on Moscow.
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