Trump Waives Russia Sanctions Days Before They Take Effect
The president signed the Graham sanctions law a month ago. On Friday he waived most of its sanctions and tariffs, certifying to Congress that the move is in the national interest.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Friday waiving many of the sanctions, restrictions, and duties in the Russia sanctions law he signed a month ago, days before they were set to take effect.
The law, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, was signed September 18. It would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on all goods from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas within 30 days of enactment, with duties on Russian goods rising as high as 500%. The implementation deadline was October 18.
Trump invoked the law's own waiver provision, which allows the president to set aside its sanctions and duties with a written certification that the waiver is in the national interest.
“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 said in the order, which was released by the White House on Friday.
The move comes as Trump has warmed toward Russia and publicly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, including suggesting that Ukraine needs a new leader, according to Reuters.
The reaction
Democrats criticized the waiver. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said he was leading colleagues demanding that Trump rescind the move, calling it a betrayal of American security interests and Ukrainians fighting Russia.
Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina called it “a mistake,” saying the decision would do little to lower American fuel prices while funding Russia's war against Ukraine. Representative Greg Stanton of Arizona called the plan “likely illegal” and said it would funnel billions of dollars into Russia. Representative Mike Levin of California called it “a lifeline for Russia's war machine.”
The Treasury Department separately issued General License 135 on Friday, authorizing transactions involving Russian-origin diesel through April 2027.
The waiver leaves the law itself in place. The administration can still apply its remaining provisions, and Russia sanctions imposed under other laws remain in force.
