President Trump Waives Key Russia Sanctions Days Before Implementation
President Trump suspends major Russia-related sanctions and tariffs mandated by the 2026 Graham Act, citing national interests and energy price concerns.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, USA — President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is waiving a significant portion of the sanctions, restrictions, and duties that were scheduled to take effect under a bill he signed into law just last month.
The executive order, issued on Saturday, specifically targets measures outlined in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The administration cited U.S. national interests as the primary driver for the decision to suspend these penalties.
The move effectively halts provisions that would have imposed 100 percent sanctions on Russia and targeted countries purchasing Russian oil or gas. The administration indicated that the original measures threatened to complicate efforts to lower domestic diesel prices.
This policy shift occurs as President Trump adopts a noticeably warmer public stance toward Moscow. Conversely, the President has recently intensified his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, even suggesting that Ukraine requires new leadership.
The decision marks a major reversal from the legislative path set by the Graham bill, which had previously cleared the way for strict enforcement of penalties against Russian-linked operations. Businesses are now advised to review their supply chains and potential exposure to secondary tariffs as the administration recalibrates its approach to Russian-origin imports.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
