Trump waives Graham Act sanctions on Russia two days before deadline

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving major sanctions and tariffs required under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The order came two days before the law’s implementation deadline of 18 October.

Trump stated in the order that he was waiving the application of sanctions, restrictions and duties provided for in the Graham Act. He submitted a certification to Congress that the waiver was in the national interests of the United States. The law, signed by Trump on 18 September after bipartisan passage, aimed to impose broad sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs and financial institutions, along with high tariffs on Russian goods and on major buyers of Russian energy.

Specific waivers covered sections that would have applied 500 percent duties on Russian goods and 100 percent tariffs on the largest importers of Russian crude and gas. Other sanctions provisions were also waived. Existing sanctions from prior orders remained in place. The order directed monitoring of countries importing Russian energy or evading measures.

Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev called the suspension an important and historic moment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the decision as unfortunate and said the Graham Act could have helped. Zelenskyy had urged support for the sanctions. The move followed public criticism by Trump of Zelenskyy and a recent arrangement on Russian diesel exports intended to ease fuel prices.

The Graham Act was named for the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July after advocating the measure for over a year. It gave the president authority to waive provisions with a national-interest certification and report to Congress. No time limit applied to the waiver. Democrats criticised the action as contrary to the intent of the legislation passed with bipartisan support. Some Republicans also questioned the timing.

The waiver reduces immediate pressure on Russian energy exports and on buyers such as China and India. It arrives as winter approaches and Russian strikes continue on Ukrainian infrastructure. Global oil and diesel prices have been a stated concern for the administration. The order leaves open the possibility of later action if officials determine it is appropriate.

Congress had required implementation or waiver by 18 October. The White House exercised the waiver power provided in the statute itself. The full text of the executive order is available on the White House website. It notes the law’s provisions and the certification process.

The decision shifts the timeline for any new US economic measures against Russia. It does not reverse existing restrictions but prevents the automatic application of the new package. Markets and energy importers will watch for any subsequent determinations by the administration.