WASHINGTON / AsiaWire.IO / – President Donald Trump has suspended new sanctions and tariffs on Russia that Congress approved under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The White House released the executive order on Friday, October 16, two days before the penalties were set to begin. Trump told Congress the waiver was in the national interests of the United States. He signed the law in mid-September after it cleared both chambers by wide margins. The order offered no further reasoning.
Under the act, the US would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% within 30 days on all goods from the five biggest buyers of Russian crude oil or gas. Any country that knowingly purchased Russian oil or gas 30 days after enactment faced the same risk. The top five countries assisting Russian sanctions evasion were also covered. The law further allowed tariffs of up to 500% on all goods from Russia. It also set sanctions on foreign banks that do significant business with Russian state banks.
The waiver stays in place until Trump or senior officials decide that further action is appropriate, according to the order. Earlier sanctions imposed by executive order remain in force, and the law’s Russia measures run until 2031. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said on Saturday that the act gives the president extra authorities to pursue peace. Rogers said applying the sanctions now would hinder negotiations. The president can still use those powers at any time, the White House said.
Lawmakers from both parties criticize waiver
The decision drew sharp responses on Capitol Hill. Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, said the move was beyond irresponsible. Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn said Graham would be appalled. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York called the diesel arrangement with Moscow a deal with the devil. Representative Thomas Massie, one of seven Republicans who opposed the bill, backed the waiver. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the step benefits only Russia and will not end the war.
The late Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, led the push for the legislation before his sudden death in July. The Senate approved the bill 86-11 in August, and the House followed with a 262-159 vote on September 16. Trump signed it two days later. The act targets Russian officials and oligarchs, financial institutions and the shadow fleet of tankers that moves sanctioned oil. It is the second time in two weeks that Trump has waived Russia sanctions.
Diesel purchases from Russia ahead of midterms
The waiver followed Trump’s announcement a week earlier that the US had agreed to buy Russian diesel to ease global energy prices. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a general license through April covering the sale, delivery and import of Russian diesel. Russia is set to provide hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel to the US and world markets. The law would otherwise have required tariffs on Russian fuel products and sanctions on the ships that carry them.
US fuel markets have been under strain, with the national diesel average hitting a record $5.88 per gallon in September. The prospect of more Russian supply also weighed on oil prices last week and helped push the dollar index lower. Senators Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, Susan Collins and John Cornyn urged Trump earlier in the week to cancel the diesel deal. Congress retains the power to block any future termination of the sanctions. The administration’s energy moves come ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.