President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, October 16, 2026, waiving many of the Russia sanctions, restrictions and tariffs that were supposed to take effect under a sweeping law he himself signed just last month. The White House released the order late Friday, and it suspends the hardest-hitting parts of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 — including tariffs of up to 100 percent on the world's biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas — only days before an October 18 deadline.
Why did Trump waive the Russia sanctions?
The stated reason is simple: the national interest of the United States. In the order itself, Trump wrote that he had "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," Reuters reported.
But the timing tells a bigger story. The tariff provisions were colliding with Trump's plan, announced just last week, to work with Putin on releasing Russian diesel into global markets — diesel prices are near record highs and Trump wants them down before the November 3 midterms, the Business Standard reports. And as Reuters noted, Trump has been warming toward Russia while openly criticizing Ukraine's Zelenskyy — even suggesting Kyiv needs a new leader.
What the Graham Act was supposed to do
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 was designed to squeeze Russia's energy money — the main fuel for its war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year. Congress passed it on September 16, and Trump signed it two days later, The Hindu reported. Its primary backer in Congress was Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died in July; passing it was seen in Washington as a way of honoring him.
Here's what the Act authorized: tariffs of up to 100 percent within 30 days on all goods entering the US from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas, plus any country that knowingly kept buying Russian oil or gas or ranked among the top five helping Russia dodge sanctions, Reuters reported. It also allowed duties of up to 500 percent on goods from Russia itself — and India and China, among the world's biggest buyers of Russian energy, had both raised concerns about the bill.
What the waiver covers — and what it doesn't
The waiver is specific, not total. "Pursuant to section 115(a) of the Graham Act, I hereby waive the application of any duties provided for in sections 112 and 113 of the Graham Act or this order," Trump wrote, as The Hindu reported. Section 112 covers the up-to-500-percent duties on Russian goods; Section 113 covers the up-to-100-percent tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas or helping evade sanctions.
One thing to get right: the 500-percent duties are described differently by different outlets — the Business Standard says they hit US imports of Russian energy products, while the Economic Times, citing the Act's text, says up to 500 percent on all goods imported from Russia. Either way, they're now waived.
And here's the catch most headlines miss: the tariffs aren't gone. The directive formally imposes them but suspends their application — which means Trump can switch them back on whenever he chooses, according to the Business Standard. It's a loaded gun on the table, not one that's been thrown away.
The diesel deal behind the timing
The waiver didn't come out of nowhere. Trump had announced a diesel arrangement with Russia last week: Moscow would immediately ship more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million tonnes after that, the Economic Times reported. Hitting Russian oil buyers with 100-percent tariffs at the same time would have torpedoed that plan — and sent fuel prices even higher right before voters go to the polls. A bipartisan group of senators had already signed a letter this week demanding that Trump drop the diesel deal and enforce the Graham Act as written. The waiver went the other way.
Why it matters
For American drivers, this is about pump prices. Diesel is already hovering near record highs, and Trump wants it down before the November 3 midterms, the Business Standard reports. Waiving the oil-buyer tariffs keeps cheaper fuel flowing for now.
For India, China and Turkey — the top buyers of Russian energy — it's a reprieve. India's foreign ministry had already lodged its objections with Washington this week; spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Wednesday that New Delhi had "already conveyed to the US side our concerns regarding the SRIA legislation," according to the Economic Times. Germany, for its part, is keeping its own Russia sanctions firmly in place despite Trump's diesel move, as GlobalDeskNews reported earlier.
For Ukraine, though, the waiver looks like another blow. Kyiv depends on economic pressure to force Moscow toward peace talks — pressure the Graham Act was built to deliver.
What happens next
The reaction in Washington has been fierce. Representative Don Beyer called the move a "surrender to Putin" that "betrays our Ukrainian partners," the Economic Times reported, while Representative Don Bacon said: "The President is prolonging the war, not ending it." California Governor Gavin Newsom's office posted on X: "OK. Someone has to be getting paid by Putin. Who? And how much?" Chess champion-turned-activist Garry Kasparov warned that easing pressure on Russia prolongs the war and costs Ukrainian lives, the Economic Times reported.
So what happens now? Three things to watch: whether the Russian diesel actually arrives and moves US pump prices; whether Congress tries to rewrite the law to block future waivers — Beyer has already called for "fixing" it; and the suspended tariffs themselves, which Trump can hold over Moscow, Beijing and New Delhi as leverage for whatever comes next.
Key Takeaways
- On Friday, October 16, President Trump signed an executive order waiving many sanctions and tariff measures under the Graham Act, days before an October 18 deadline.
- The waiver covers duties under Sections 112 and 113 — up to 100% tariffs on the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas, and up to 500% duties on Russian goods.
- Trump's stated reason: the US national interest. The reported backdrop: his diesel deal with Putin and record-high American fuel prices weeks before the midterms.
- The tariffs are suspended, not cancelled — the order formally imposes them, so Trump can reinstate them at any time.
- India, China and Turkey — the top purchasers of Russian energy — get immediate relief from the tariff threat.
- The move drew sharp criticism from US lawmakers, who accused Trump of siding with Putin and prolonging the war in Ukraine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Trump waive the Russia sanctions?
Trump said the waiver is "in the national interests of the United States," as certified to Congress under Section 115 of the Graham Act. Reports also link the timing to his diesel deal with Putin and his drive to lower record-high US fuel prices weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, according to the Business Standard.
What does the Graham Act waiver mean?
The waiver suspends — but does not erase — the tariff and sanction measures in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Specifically, it waives duties under Sections 112 and 113. Trump can reinstate them whenever he chooses, so the penalties remain on the books as leverage.
What are Sections 112 and 113 of the Graham Act?
Section 112 allowed the president to raise duties on goods imported from Russia to as much as 500 percent. Section 113 allowed tariffs of up to 100 percent on the countries that buy the most Russian crude oil and natural gas, or help Russia evade sanctions, The Hindu reported. Both sections are now covered by the waiver.
Is the Russia sanctions waiver permanent?
No. The executive order formally imposes the tariffs while suspending their application, meaning Trump could apply them at another time if he chooses, according to the Business Standard. It is a pause, not a repeal — and Congress could still try to change the law.
What is the Trump-Putin diesel deal behind the waiver?
Trump announced a deal for Russia to ship more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million tonnes after that, the Economic Times reported. Enforcing the Graham Act's oil-buyer tariffs would have conflicted with that plan, which Trump wants in place to lower US fuel prices before the midterms.
How does the waiver affect India?
India is among the largest buyers of Russian oil and had raised concerns about the Graham Act's tariffs. The waiver removes the immediate threat of extra US duties on Indian goods tied to Russian energy purchases. New Delhi's foreign ministry had already conveyed its objections to Washington this week, the Economic Times reported.
Sources
- Reuters: Trump waives many Russia-related sanctions, tariffs before they were to take effect under new law
- The Hindu: Donald Trump waives sanctions, tariffs on purchase of Russian oil and gas
- Business Standard: Trump waives Russia energy tariffs and sanctions under Graham law
- The Economic Times: 'Getting paid by Putin': Democrats criticise Trump's waiver of sanctions under Lindsey Graham Act
- GlobalDeskNews: Trump Russia Diesel Deal: Putin to Supply Fuel, Cut Prices
- GlobalDeskNews: Trump-Putin Diesel Deal: Zelensky Fires Back 'Weak Decision'
- GlobalDeskNews: Germany Keeps Russia Sanctions, Defying Trump Diesel Move