House Rules Committee Debates Bill Granting President Trump Broad Tariff Authority Amid Sanctions Concerns
The U.S. House Rules Committee is currently debating the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (H.R.10076). Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has voiced strong opposition to the bill, arguing that it is deeply flawed. According to Meeks, while the bill is ostensibly about imposing new sanctions on Russia, its primary effect would be to grant President Trump sweeping new tariff authorities. Meeks stated that the bill was drafted by White House lawyers to maximize the President's power to impose import taxes on Americans and minimize any obligation to actually sanction Russia. He highlighted that the President already possesses the authority to impose the sanctions outlined in the bill but has chosen not to use them for the past 19 months. Meeks also expressed concern that Section 113 of the bill would allow the President to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from major purchasers of Russian oil and gas and 'top oil sanctions...
