U.S. President Trump signed an executive order on Friday (October 16) to exempt a number of key sanctions and tariffs against Russia that were scheduled to take effect in the near future on the grounds of national security. The content includes imposing tariffs on Russian goods and imposing penalties on purchases of Russian oil and natural gas.
“Subject to further instructions in Section 4 of this Executive Order, I hereby waive the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and tariffs as set forth in the Graham Act,” the order reads.
"I have submitted a certification to Congress confirming that it is in the national interest of the United States to issue such a waiver at this time," Trump said.
The White House did not immediately explain how Trump's decision to suspend sanctions would serve U.S. national interests. The White House announced the decision on its website late Friday, noting that a report explaining the decision had been submitted to Congress.
The exemption will remain in effect until Trump or his senior officials determine that "further action is necessary," according to the executive order.
The Lindsey Graham Act is named after the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham, a close ally of Trump who died in July, had been a key driver of the sanctions during his lifetime. The bill received bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress and was passed in September.
The bill authorizes the Trump administration to increase pressure on Russia over the Russia-Ukraine war by imposing tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil.
However, Trump has recently softened his attitude toward Moscow, publicly criticized Zelensky, and even suggested that Ukraine needs to change its leader.
The sanctions are intended to cut off the funding Putin needs to continue his war on Ukraine. The bill also plans to sanction Russian officials, banks, and the "shadow fleet" that helps Russian energy continue to flow.
The law authorizes Trump to impose sanctions on the five largest buyers of Russian energy and the five countries most actively helping Moscow circumvent energy sanctions. The measures could further exacerbate U.S. trade tensions with China and India, both important buyers of Russian oil.
Beijing said China "has always opposed long-arm jurisdiction that lacks a basis in international law." India warned Washington that new tariff measures could affect relations between the two countries.
Under the law, tariffs and sanctions will automatically take effect 30 days after the bill is signed, unless the president decides otherwise. Trump issued the exemption order ahead of a deadline set by Congress.
Trump's decision to waive sanctions on Russia comes just a week after he announced a diesel deal between the United States and Russia. Trump said at the time that the United States had agreed to buy diesel from Russia in an effort to lower global energy prices, even though the move could harm Ukraine. Trump said Russia would immediately provide more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the U.S. and global markets, while suspending existing sanctions to allow related supplies to be delivered.
Analysts pointed out that the U.S. midterm elections are approaching, and the American people are already under pressure from the rising cost of living caused by factors such as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iraq. If sanctions against Russia take effect, oil prices may rise further.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who co-authored the Russia sanctions bill, criticized Trump's decision, saying he turned his back on "the majority of the American people, representatives in both houses of Congress, and our European allies."
"These exemptions have nothing to do with U.S. national security and are entirely designed to curry favor with Putin," Blumenthal said.
Rep. Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, fiercely criticized Trump's exemption, saying he had surrendered to Putin: "Trump's recent surrender to Putin not only once again betrayed our Ukrainian partners, but also blatantly violated the clear intention of Congressional legislation to punish Russia for launching an illegal war of aggression."
Putin’s investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev called Trump’s decision “a truly historic moment.” He posted on the social platform X that sanctions could have brought all economic cooperation between Russia and the United States to a standstill.
