President Trump signed an executive order Friday waiving most of the sanctions, restrictions and tariffs in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, days before they were set to take effect. "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 wrote.
Trump signed the law on Sept. 18. It would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas, such as India, and the top five countries helping Russia evade sanctions. The order waives "any duties" under the law, including a 500% duty on Russian goods, and most of its sanctions on individuals and companies.
Sanctions under Trump's earlier Russia orders stay in place. "Nothing in this order affects any sanctions or other measures" under those orders, "including with respect to all persons sanctioned," the order states.
The waivers are not permanent. They last until the president or the secretary of state decides "further action is appropriate," and the U.S. trade representative must track Russian oil and gas purchases and flag anything that "might indicate the need for further action." The law, which passed Congress with bipartisan majorities, gives the president that waiver power, and Trump sent Congress a report explaining his reasons.
The order came a week after Trump announced a separate deal to buy Russian diesel to help lower energy prices, which a bipartisan House bill seeks to block, as ProfiloPolitics reported. On Tuesday, 12 senators from both parties, including Mitch McConnell, urged Trump to use the law to "apply economic pressure on Russia and the chief enablers of its war, in particular China."
Photo: President Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office. Still from White House video (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
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