President Trump signed an executive order Friday waiving key provisions of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, citing national interest. The order suspends tariffs on Russian goods and duties on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas that the law required Trump to impose within 30 days of enactment.
The Graham Act, which Trump signed into law on September 18, mandated tariffs of up to 500% on all Russian imports and up to 100% on nations including China and India that rank among the top five buyers of Russian crude oil or gas. The law aimed to constrain Russia's war economy and passed the House on September 16 with backing from the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
Trump's waiver comes two days before the implementation deadline. The order preserves existing Russia sanctions under earlier executive orders but removes the new tariff requirements. The move follows Trump's temporary waiver of sanctions on Russian diesel exports through April 2027, announced a week earlier to address fuel supply concerns.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's economy envoy, called the suspension "an important and truly historic moment" and said U.S.-Russia economic dialogue and peacemaking efforts would continue.
Opposition emerged swiftly. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat and Graham Act co-drafter, accused Trump of siding with "a bloodthirsty thug" against Congress and American allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Friday in Brussels that the diesel agreement could establish precedent for broader sanctions relief, affecting banking systems and other sectors.
Oil revenues fund Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The tariff suspensions address domestic fuel prices ahead of November 3 midterm elections, when Trump's Republican Party holds narrow majorities in both chambers. Trump's order justifies the waiver through a national-interest certification required to Congress under the Graham Act.