Reuters reports Trump cited the U.S. national interest for waiving measures under a law he signed last month.
Trump said Friday he was waiving many Russia-related sanctions, restrictions and duties days before they were to take effect under a law he signed the previous month, Reuters reports.
7.6M
64 Sources, first seen ago
President Donald Trump used a clause in a sanctions law he signed last month to waive many of its new Russia-related measures before they took effect. The October 16 executive order says the waiver is in the national interests of the United States and that the required certification and explanatory report were sent to Congress.
The order implements the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which Trump signed on September 18. The Associated Press reported that the action came two days before the law's implementation deadline. The package was designed to pressure Russia by targeting officials, banks, energy trade and the tanker network that helps keep Russian oil moving.
The order lays out a 500% duty on Russian goods and 100% duties on goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas and the top five facilitators of Russian oil-sanctions evasion. Section 4 then waives those duties, along with many sanctions and restrictions listed elsewhere in the law.
The White House says Section 115 allows the president to issue such waivers after certifying to Congress that they serve the national interest. The waivers remain in effect until the president or designated senior officials determine that further action is appropriate.
The order says the waiver does not affect sanctions and other measures imposed under earlier executive orders addressing harmful activities by the Russian government. It also directs the U.S. Trade Representative, working with the State, Treasury and Energy departments, to monitor Russian energy purchases and sanctions evasion and report developments that could justify changing the waivers.
Reuters reported that China and India, among the largest buyers of Russian oil, had raised concerns about the law. The outlet also cited analysts who said applying the new measures could have pushed oil prices higher before the U.S. midterm elections.
—
Not ranked yet
—
Not ranked yet
