Sanctions — 2026-07-15

US Senators Unveil Updated Russia Sanctions Bill With Up to 100 Percent Tariffs on Major Buyers of Russian Oil and Gas

BLUFTrump's suggestion to bolt Iran and Hezbollah provisions onto a negotiated text risks converting bipartisan momentum into an amendment fight that consumes the narrow pre-recess window.

A bipartisan group of senators, led by co-sponsors including Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Republican Sen. Katie Britt, unveiled an updated Russia sanctions bill on Tuesday, with more than 26 co-sponsors and growing, honoring the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died Saturday after announcing White House agreement on the measure 123. The "Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026" would impose mandatory sanctions on Putin, Russian officials, banks, energy firms and Russia's shadow fleet, and tariffs up to 100% on the top five buyers of Russian crude oil (currently China, India, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan) and the top five buyers of Russian natural gas (China, France, Japan, Hungary and Belgium), down from an original blanket 500% proposal 34. Countries importing less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports and reducing that share would be exempt, and the president retains waiver authority 4. President Trump said Tuesday the bill has "a good chance" but suggested adding Iran and Hezbollah measures, a proposal Blumenthal said should not delay passage of the negotiated text 24.

Analysis
The bill's enforcement logic hinges on presidential waiver authority and a rotating five-country tariff list, letting the White House calibrate pressure on China and India without the original blanket 500% rate hitting smaller trading partners, while the 15% natural-gas exemption gives Hungary, Slovakia, Japan, France, and Belgium a legislative off-ramp those two lack. Trump's push to fold in Iran and Hezbollah measures opens a scope fight that could delay floor action despite sponsors holding negotiated White House buy-in on the current text, and the narrowed tariff scope may reflect Trump's preference for a targeted China-India instrument that preserves his own trade leverage rather than senators' independent judgment on maximum pressure. Four independently reported primary accounts converge on the bill's terms, with one non-primary outlet tracking the same details as secondary amplification.

5 sources

US lawmakers unveil updated Russia sanctions bill spearheaded by late Senator Graham - Kyiv Independent
Senators unveil sweeping Russia sanctions bill, urge passage in honor of Graham - CNN
Bipartisan senators introduce Russia sanctions and tariff bill Lindsey Graham championed - CBS News
US Russia Sanctions Bill Eases Threat of Tariffs on China and India - Reuters (via U.S. News)
Senators introduce revised Russia sanctions bill to honor Graham - Axios