Trump Waives Russia-Related Sanctions and Tariff Provisions Under New Law
An executive order exempts key Russia-related sanctions and tariff provisions from taking effect, with the waiver remaining in place until Trump or senior administration officials determine further action is warranted. The law authorized tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries meeting specified criteria.
President Donald Trump has suspended key Russia-related sanctions and tariff provisions days before they were due to take effect, easing potential economic pressure on Moscow as rising energy costs weigh on American consumers. Trump Waives Russia Sanctions Under New Law In an executive order released Friday, Trump said the waiver serves U.S. national interests. The exemption will remain in effect until he or senior administration officials determine that further action is warranted.
"I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States," Trump said in the order. Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in mid-September. The legislation was designed to pressure Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022.
It authorized tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries meeting specified criteria, including major buyers of Russian oil and gas and countries helping Moscow evade sanctions. Read Also: Trump Says Russia, Ukraine ‘Agreed’ to Energy Ceasefire, but Zelenskyy Says Russia Is ‘Unwilling to Accept’ It India, China Could Avoid Fresh Tariff Pressure India and China, two of the largest purchasers of Russian oil, had raised concerns about the legislation’s potential impact. Beijing described it as "long-arm jurisdiction that lacks a basis in international law," while New Delhi warned that additional U.S. tariffs could damage bilateral relations.
The waiver could ease immediate trade concerns for these countries, although it does not eliminate existing U.S. sanctions against Russia. Oil Prices, Midterm Elections Add Pressure The decision comes as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has contributed to higher energy costs, raising concerns that further disruptions to global oil supplies could push prices higher. With U.S.
midterm elections approaching, rising fuel costs could also become a political challenge for Republicans seeking to retain control of Congress. The waiver drew criticism from Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), who accused Trump of undermining congressional efforts to punish Moscow. "Trump’s latest surrender to Putin again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent," Beyer said.
Trump just waived all of the sanctions on Russia provided for in the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, just as I and others warned he would. Trump’s latest surrender to Putin again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed… — Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) October 17, 2026 Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, called the decision "a truly historic moment," arguing that the legislation could have effectively halted economic cooperation between Washington and Moscow. 1/4 The suspension of some of the provisions of the Graham Act marks an important and truly historic moment.
The legislation underwent fundamental and deeply negative changes following Senator Graham’s death. — Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) October 17, 2026 According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average price of regular gasoline is $4.3085 per gallon and premium is $5.2208. Diesel prices are higher at $6.3276 per gallon, while E85 averages $3.3206 per gallon. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published editors.
Read Also: ‘Putin Humiliates Trump Every Chance He Gets:’ Anthony Scaramucci Slams Russian Diesel Deal, Ukraine Energy Ceasefire Image via Shutterstock