WASHINGTON / AsiaWire.IO / – On October 16, President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending new sanctions and tariffs on Russia that had been authorized by Congress under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The White House made this announcement on Friday, just two days before the enforcement of the penalties was scheduled to commence. Trump explained to Congress that the waiver served the national interests of the United States. Although he signed the legislation in mid-September after it gained broad approval from both chambers, the executive order provided no further explanation.
The act would have enabled the US to impose tariffs reaching up to 100% within 30 days on imports from the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas. Any nation that knowingly purchased Russian oil or gas 30 days following the law’s enactment would have faced the same tariffs. The law also targeted the top five countries assisting Russian sanctions evasion. Additionally, it permitted tariffs of up to 500% on all Russian goods and imposed sanctions on foreign banks engaged in substantial dealings with Russian state banks.
The executive order states that the waiver remains in effect until Trump or senior officials determine further action is necessary. Existing sanctions imposed through executive order remain active, and the law’s provisions regarding Russia are valid until 2031. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers stated on Saturday that the act provides the president with extra authority to promote peace. She added that enforcing sanctions at this stage could hinder diplomatic negotiations. The White House confirmed that the president retains the power to activate those sanctions at any time.
Partisan Reactions to the Waiver
The decision was met with strong criticism from various lawmakers. Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, described the move as irresponsible. Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas expressed that Graham would be appalled. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York characterized the diesel agreement with Moscow as a deal with the devil. Representative Thomas Massie, one of seven Republicans opposed to the bill, expressed support for the waiver. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the action only benefits Russia and will not bring an end to the war.
The late Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, was instrumental in pushing for the legislation before his sudden death in July. The Senate approved the bill 86-11 in August, followed by the House’s 262-159 vote on September 16. Trump signed the legislation two days later. The law targets Russian officials, oligarchs, financial institutions, and the shadow fleet of tankers transporting sanctioned oil. Notably, this marks the second occasion in two weeks that Trump has waived sanctions on Russia.
Russian Diesel Imports Preceding Midterm Elections
The waiver came shortly after Trump announced that the US had agreed to purchase Russian diesel to help ease global energy prices. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a general license through April, covering the sale, delivery, and import of Russian diesel. Russia is expected to supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel to US and international markets. Without the law’s restrictions, tariffs on Russian fuel products and sanctions on vessels transporting them would have been enforced.
US fuel markets have faced considerable pressure, with the national diesel average reaching a record $5.88 per gallon in September. The anticipation of increased Russian supplies also contributed to a decline in oil prices last week and pulled down the dollar index. Earlier this week, senators Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, and John Cornyn urged Trump to cancel the diesel deal. Congress retains the authority to block any future termination of sanctions. The administration’s moves on energy come ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, highlighting the political implications of these decisions.