World
Trump signs law expanding sanctions on Russia and allowing tariffs on its biggest energy buyers
The measure, backed by the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, allows tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas. It also broadens sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.
President Donald Trump on Friday signed a sweeping law targeting Russia and opening the door to tariffs on the biggest purchasers of its oil and natural gas, CBS News Miami reported.
The House passed the bill earlier this week with bipartisan support, while the Senate approved it in August. According to CBS News Miami, several Democrats had raised concerns that the legislation would expand presidential tariff powers.
The measure, titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas. It also sanctions Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with government officials, oligarchs, banks and Russian financial institutions.
Internationally, the bill’s heaviest impact would fall on China and India, identified as the largest purchasers of Russian crude. CBS News Miami also reported that Trump is scheduled to meet Xi Jinping at the White House on Sept. 24.
The law further extends sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors. CBS News Miami said the strain on global oil markets caused by the U.S. war with Iran had initially benefited Russia. Early in that conflict, the Trump administration temporarily allowed purchases of Russian oil that was already at sea.
The legislation had been championed by Lindsey Graham shortly before his sudden death in July. CBS News Miami recalled that the Republican senator had just returned from a trip to Ukraine when he died in Washington from a torn aorta at age 71. Trump delivered the eulogy at his funeral.
Russia’s war in Ukraine continues with no clear resolution in sight. Earlier this month, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and special envoy Steve Witkoff visited Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, according to CBS News Miami. Against that backdrop, Trump voiced frustration over his failure to end the war despite his campaign pledge to do so on his first day in office.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
