Staff Reports
President Donald Trump signed H.R. 5334 — the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 — into law on September 18, 2026. The new law gives the White House a serious new tool: the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas and on countries that help Moscow dodge sanctions. This move pairs hard economic pressure with continued diplomacy, and it changes the leverage in Washington’s effort to choke off funds that fuel aggression abroad.
What the law actually does
At its core, the statute creates presidential tariff authority targeted at the “top five” importers of Russian-origin crude and natural gas, and at the top five facilitators of Russia’s sanctions evasion. That sounds dramatic — and it is — but the power is not automatic. The administration must make formal determinations, work through USTR and other agencies, and can use national-interest waivers and carve-outs for narrow cases. The bill also expands sanctions on Russian banks, energy networks and officials and extends Iran sanctions. In short: a toolbox of tariffs, targeted designations and reporting requirements designed to make buyers choose between Moscow’s money and trade with the United States.
Why this matters now
This is more than a headline. By signing H.R. 5334, President Trump kept his ability to negotiate while planting a credible threat on the table. Diplomacy only works when the other side fears real consequences. If Beijing, New Delhi or other big buyers keep propping up Russia’s energy revenues, the U.S. now has a statutory stick it can wield. Yes, there are economic risks and legal questions — scholars rightly warn of non‑delegation and “major questions” lawsuits if the tariff power is used aggressively. But those are the checks that should follow, not reasons to neuter American leverage before it’s ever tested.
Politics, partners and practicalities
The bill passed with strong bipartisan margins in both chambers, and Senator Darline Graham helped shepherd it through as a living tribute to the late senator whose name it bears. Still, not everyone cheered. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries voted against the bill, warning that giving the president broad tariff authority could raise costs for American families. That’s a fair caution — and a reason the administration should implement this power carefully, targeting policy so it hits the right pocketbooks abroad, not ours. Watch for how the USTR lists covered countries and whether the White House uses waivers to soften disruptions for allies with real energy needs.
Where we go from here
Implementation will be the story now. The next moves — determinations of which countries are the “top five,” any national‑interest certifications to Congress, and the first use (or restraint) of tariffs — will show whether this law becomes a smart instrument of pressure or a political liability. Conservatives should want both strength and prudence: use the statute to squeeze the money pipeline that fuels aggression, but do it with clear rules and close oversight so it doesn’t blow back on American workers and consumers. Peace is the goal; strength is how we get there. That’s the simple trade the new law intends to force on Moscow and its enablers — and it’s about time Washington had that option in the toolbox.
