Washington: US President Donald Trump has waived several sanctions and tariff measures under a new law targeting Russia and countries that continue to buy Russian energy, suspending key provisions shortly before they were due to take effect on October 18.
Trump signed an executive order on October 16, citing the national interest as the reason for the decision. The move has raised questions about Washington’s strategy for pressuring Moscow over its war against Ukraine and drawn criticism from lawmakers who supported tougher economic measures against Russia.
The decision concerns the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which Trump signed into law on September 18. The legislation was designed to increase economic pressure on Russia and give the United States additional powers to penalise countries that purchase Russian energy or help Moscow evade sanctions.
The law provided for a 500% increase in the rate of duty on Russian goods and a potential 100% increase for specified goods from certain countries under defined conditions. However, the executive order waived the duties provided for under the relevant provisions. These figures describe the measures contained in the law, not tariffs newly imposed and being collected under the waived provisions.
The legislation also included sanctions targeting Russian officials and economic networks connected to the country. Trump’s order waived several of these provisions, using authority granted to the president under Section 115 of the law. He submitted the required certification and explanatory report to Congress to support the decision.
The order does not remove all existing US sanctions against Russia. It preserves relevant sanctions and other measures imposed under specified earlier executive orders before the new law was enacted. The distinction is important because the decision suspends significant parts of the new framework without ending the wider American sanctions regime.
The waiver will remain in effect until the president or designated officials determine that further action is appropriate. The administration has not established when, or whether, the suspended provisions will be reinstated.
The decision has prompted criticism from Democratic lawmakers who argue that the suspension weakens the purpose of the legislation. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a co author of the sanctions law, criticised the move, arguing that it went against the intentions of Congress and US allies. Representative Don Beyer also opposed the decision and called for Congress to address weaknesses in the law.
The legislation received substantial bipartisan support as lawmakers sought to increase pressure on Russia over the war in Ukraine. Supporters viewed the proposed measures as a way to restrict Moscow’s revenue from energy exports and discourage other countries from helping Russia maintain those earnings.
The latest decision comes amid a wider debate in Washington over energy supplies, fuel prices and the effectiveness of sanctions. It also follows a recently announced arrangement involving Russian diesel supplies, which has raised questions about the administration’s approach to Russian energy trade.
Trump announced plans involving more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel initially, followed by another 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes thereafter. These quantities were announced as part of the arrangement, but the deliveries have not been independently confirmed.
Critics argue that continued purchases of Russian fuel could provide revenue to Moscow while the war continues. At the same time, the administration has been considering the economic effects of restrictions on energy supplies, shipping costs and fuel availability. The relationship between these concerns and the decision to waive the new sanctions provisions remains an important part of the wider policy debate.
China and India are among the major buyers of Russian oil whose purchases have attracted attention in discussions about additional trade penalties. The new law contemplated higher tariffs affecting major importers under specified conditions. However, the latest executive order waives the relevant duties, and it does not establish that either country has been newly penalised under those provisions.
The implications for individual countries, energy companies and international trade remain uncertain. The suspension does not automatically lift other existing restrictions or make all trade involving Russian energy unrestricted.
For Ukraine, the decision raises concerns about the strength of international economic pressure on Russia. Revenue from energy exports remains an important consideration in efforts to limit Moscow’s financial resources during the war. However, the full impact of the waiver on Russian revenue and the course of the conflict has not yet been established.
The move also highlights the continuing debate over the use of economic pressure in US foreign policy. Congress approved the legislation to strengthen penalties against Russia and certain energy trading partners, while also giving the president authority to waive specified measures in the national interest.
Trump’s decision therefore represents a significant change in how the new sanctions framework will be applied, rather than a complete reversal of all American restrictions on Russia. Its effects on Russian energy exports, international trade and efforts to end the war in Ukraine will depend on further policy decisions and developments in the months ahead.