Tariffs on Oil Purchases and Sanctions Evasion
Legal Authorities in the Sanctioning Russia Act
On Aug. 7, 2026, the Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (the Sanctioning Act). In addition to authorizing various sanctions against the government of the Russian Federation and Russian individuals and entities, the Sanctioning Act authorizes new tariffs on imports from Russia and a certain number of additional countries that either import crude oil or natural gas originating in Russia or facilitate Russian oil sanctions evasion. A sunset clause provides that the law would terminate five years after its enactment. Article I of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to impose import…
