On Friday night, October 16, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving the new economic sanctions and tariffs against Russia mandated by the recently passed Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.

 

Trump Signs Order Exempting Russia From Sanctions Law

On Friday night, October 16, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving the new economic sanctions and tariffs against Russia mandated by the recently passed Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The waiver effectively neutralizes the primary penalties of the law just two days before they were scheduled to legally take effect on October 18, 2026.

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Key Details of the Executive Order

• The Stated Justification: In his official order, President Trump stated that he submitted a certification to Congress declaring that issuing the waiver is in the "national interests of the United States".
• Underlying Strategy: The administration's decision is aimed at lowering record-high domestic fuel costs. Trump recently announced a deal for Russia to supply hundreds of thousands of metric tons of diesel to the U.S., and administration officials indicated that the sweeping tariffs would complicate efforts to lower energy prices.
• Duration: The executive order notes that the waiver will remain active until Trump or other top White House officials determine that "further action is appropriate".

What the Sanctions Law Would Have Done

The bipartisan legislation—spearheaded by the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who died in July—was originally signed into law by Trump in mid-September 2026. If fully implemented, the law would have:

• Imposed up to 100% tariffs within 30 days on all U.S. imports from the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas (most notably targeting major trade partners like China and India). [1, 2]
• Subjected direct Russian imports to the U.S. to tariffs of up to 500%.
• Targetted Russian financial institutions, government officials, oligarchs, and the "shadow fleet" of oil tankers used by Moscow to circumvent previous western restrictions.

Congressional and Public Backlash

The decision has sparked immediate, widespread domestic and international criticism:

• Bipartisan Congressional Pushback: Prior to the signing, a bipartisan coalition of 20 U.S. lawmakers had formally written to Trump urging "full and faithful implementation" of the law to force Russian President Vladimir Putin into serious peace talks. Additionally, a dozen senators (including six Republicans) have publicly demanded that Trump rescind his separate diesel import deal with Russia.
• Criticism: Critics of the move argue that the waiver provides a major economic lifeline to the Kremlin, blunts a critical tool intended to squeeze the finances sustaining Russia's war in Ukraine, and undermines congressional authority