Trump Waives Most New Russia Sanctions and Tariffs Under Graham Act Days Before They Take Effect

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 16 that waives application of major new sanctions, restrictions, and duties under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The order states that Trump has submitted the required certification to Congress that the waiver is in the national interests of the United States.

The Graham Act, which Trump signed into law on September 18, provided for additional sanctions on foreign persons, restrictions on persons, and duties on goods from Russia and certain other countries. It authorized tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas that make new purchases, along with a 500 percent ad valorem increase on Russian goods and other measures. Those provisions were scheduled to take effect around October 18 unless waived.

Section 4 of the October 16 order specifically waives duties under sections 112 and 113 of the Act, the sanctions and restrictions in section 102(d), and a list of additional provisions including sections 102(a), 102(e), 103 through 111, and 117. The order states that the waivers remain in effect until the President or the Secretary of State, in consultation with other officials, determines that further action is appropriate. Earlier sanctions under prior executive orders remain in place.

The move follows an October 9 arrangement in which Russia agreed to supply diesel fuel to the U.S. and global markets, accompanied by a Treasury general license suspending certain sanctions on Russian diesel. Administration officials have linked steps involving Russian energy to efforts to address fuel prices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the waiver on Saturday. “The decision to undo all of this, to block all of it, seems wrong to me,” he wrote. “It definitely helps only the Russians.” Some members of Congress from both parties expressed concern that the action undercuts the legislation’s intent to pressure Russia over its war in Ukraine.

The executive order is available on the White House website. Reporting on the waiver and Zelenskyy’s response appeared in multiple outlets including Reuters and The New York Times.