Trump signs Graham sanctions law authorizing tariffs up to 100% on buyers of Russian energy
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What happened
The White House enacted a new U.S. sanctions law signed by President Trump on September 18, 2026. The law authorizes tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian energy or assisting sanctions evasion.
Why it matters
The new law gives the U.S. executive branch additional coercive authority over third countries tied to Russian energy trade. Its practical effect now depends on implementation choices, including target selection, tariff levels, waivers, and coordination with allies and major importers.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Graham sanctions law on September 18, 2026, creating legal authority for the White House to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that buy Russian energy or help Russia evade sanctions. The signature turns a congressional proposal into an executable pressure tool and opens an immediate implementation phase in which Washington must decide whether, when, and against whom to apply it. For Kyiv, the event creates a near-term diplomatic window to push for enforcement that cuts Russian export earnings and tightens compliance by third-country intermediaries.
Watch for
U.S. Treasury announcement by 2026-09-22 naming entities or jurisdictions under the new Russia-energy tariff authority White House statement by 2026-09-22 on waiver criteria or phased implementation under the Graham law European Commission spokesperson briefing by 2026-09-22 on coordination with Washington over secondary pressure on Russian energy buyers Indian Ministry of External Affairs or Ministry of Commerce statement by 2026-09-22 on U.S. tariff authority tied to purchases of Russian oil
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