Trump Waives Most New Russia Sanctions and Tariffs Under 2026 Law

US President Donald Trump has waived many of the new sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia and countries that continue buying its oil and gas, delaying major parts of a recently enacted sanctions law just days before implementation. In an executive order issued on October 16, 2026, Trump cited the national interests of the United States and submitted the required certification to Congress. The decision concerns specified provisions of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, rather than removing every existing US restriction against Moscow.

The legislation was designed to increase economic pressure on Russia over its war against Ukraine by targeting Russian trade, energy purchases and countries accused of facilitating sanctions evasion. It included provisions for tariffs of up to 100% on goods from major buyers of Russian oil and natural gas, alongside other penalties. The waiver comes as the US administration faces pressure over energy prices and a reported arrangement to obtain diesel from Russia. It could ease immediate concerns for major Russian energy customers such as India and China, but the White House has retained the ability to reconsider the waivers.

Key Takeaways

• Sanctions waiver: Trump has suspended the application of many new sanctions, restrictions and tariffs under the 2026 Graham Act.
• National interest: The White House said the decision was made in the national interest and that the required certification was submitted to Congress.
• Tariff threat: The law provided for tariffs of up to 100% on goods from certain major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
• Existing sanctions remain: The order does not remove sanctions imposed under earlier executive orders that remain in force.
• India and China: Both countries could benefit from reduced immediate exposure to the new tariff provisions affecting Russian energy purchases.
• Energy prices: The administration’s decision comes amid concerns about high oil prices and the cost of energy supplies.
• Future action remains possible: The waivers can remain in place until Trump or designated senior officials determine that further action is appropriate.

What Has Trump Announced?

Trump’s executive order implements the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 while waiving many of its most consequential new measures.

The law was signed on September 18, 2026, after receiving congressional approval. It sought to strengthen the US government’s ability to penalise Russia and countries that continued purchasing Russian-origin oil and natural gas or helped Russia circumvent existing restrictions.

The order sets out tariff provisions that could increase duties on Russian goods by 500%, subject to statutory exceptions and waivers. It also describes additional duties of 100% on goods from the five largest importers of Russian-origin crude oil and natural gas if they knowingly make qualifying new purchases from October 18 onward. A separate provision targets the five largest facilitators of Russian oil sanctions evasion.

However, the executive order then waives the application of duties under the relevant sections of the law. It also waives numerous sanctions provisions and related restrictions, while preserving the administration’s authority to revisit the decision.

Measure under the law	What the framework provided	Effect of the October 16 order
Tariffs on Russian goods	Potential 500% additional duties, subject to exceptions	Application waived under the specified provisions
Tariffs affecting major Russian oil and gas buyers	Potential 100% additional duties	Application waived under the specified provisions
Penalties for sanctions evasion	Additional measures against qualifying facilitators	Many relevant provisions waived
Earlier Russia sanctions	Existing restrictions under previous executive orders	Remain in force under the order’s stated terms
Future enforcement	Further action available under the law	Waivers can be reconsidered

The order contains specific legal exceptions and waiver provisions. The table summarises the broad effect and should not be read as a statement that every US sanction or tariff involving Russia has been removed.

Why Was the Law Introduced?

The legislation was designed to reduce the financial resources available to Russia as it continues its war against Ukraine.

Energy exports are a major source of Russian revenue. Restrictions on Russian oil and gas purchases, as well as penalties on countries and businesses that help Russia evade sanctions, are intended to make those exports more difficult or expensive.

The law’s approach also sought to extend pressure beyond Russian entities themselves. By threatening tariffs on goods from major purchasers of Russian energy, Washington could attempt to influence the commercial decisions of countries that continued importing Russian-origin supplies.

Such measures can have consequences beyond the targeted country. Importers may face higher costs, redirect energy purchases or seek alternative suppliers. Companies exporting goods to the US could also be affected if their home countries became subject to additional duties.

The legislation therefore represented an attempt to use access to the US market as leverage in the broader effort to pressure Moscow.

Why Has Trump Waived the New Measures?

Trump’s executive order states that the waivers are in the national interest of the United States. It does not provide a detailed public explanation for every individual provision being waived.

The decision comes amid concerns about high energy prices and the potential economic consequences of restricting purchases of Russian oil and gas. The US has been dealing with energy-market pressure associated with the conflict involving Iran, while consumers and businesses remain sensitive to fuel costs.

A sweeping tariff regime against major buyers of Russian energy could have disrupted trade and affected prices for goods entering the United States. It could also have complicated Washington’s relationships with countries that depend on imported energy.

The administration has recently faced criticism over a reported diesel arrangement with Russia intended to increase global supplies and ease prices. Critics argue that purchases of Russian energy can continue to provide revenue to Moscow, potentially undermining the goal of weakening Russia’s capacity to sustain its war.

The waiver reflects the administration’s decision to preserve flexibility over how and when the new law is applied. The precise balance between energy affordability, foreign policy objectives and economic pressure on Russia remains a central issue.

What Does the Decision Mean for India?

India is one of the major purchasers of Russian oil and has repeatedly emphasised the importance of energy security and diversified sourcing.

The law’s threatened tariffs raised concerns that countries continuing to buy Russian-origin oil could face additional duties on goods exported to the US. Such a measure could have affected Indian exporters if India fell within a targeted category and the relevant tariff provisions were applied.

The waiver reduces the immediate risk posed by those specific new provisions. It does not mean India has received a permanent exemption from every US tariff or that all trade-related risks have disappeared.

India’s energy policy involves several considerations, including crude prices, refinery requirements, shipping costs, supplier reliability and the terms available from different markets. Russian oil can be commercially attractive when pricing and logistics make it competitive, but trade decisions also need to account for sanctions compliance and geopolitical uncertainty.

For Indian businesses, the practical implication is that the immediate threat from the waived provisions has eased, while the broader US trade relationship remains subject to other measures and future policy changes.

The order also demonstrates why businesses that trade in energy or operate across multiple jurisdictions must monitor changes in US sanctions rules. A waiver can change the immediate regulatory position, but it does not eliminate the need for due diligence or compliance with other applicable restrictions.

What About China and Other Russian Energy Buyers?

China is another major buyer of Russian energy and could also be affected by any future application of the law’s tariff provisions.

The proposed framework was not limited to Russia itself. It was designed to reach major purchasers of Russian-origin crude oil and natural gas and countries identified as facilitating sanctions evasion. That approach potentially expanded the economic consequences to trading partners beyond Moscow.

The waiver reduces immediate exposure to the specified new duties, but the administration has retained monitoring requirements. Officials must assess energy purchases and possible sanctions-evasion activity and report circumstances that might warrant further action.

For China and other countries, this creates a more uncertain policy environment than a permanent repeal would. Governments and businesses can continue to plan around current rules, but they must also consider the possibility that the US could restore or alter measures later.

The decision may therefore reduce short-term uncertainty without resolving the underlying disagreement over how trade with Russia should be treated.

Existing Sanctions Against Russia Have Not Disappeared

One of the most important details in the executive order is its treatment of earlier sanctions.

The order explicitly states that the waivers do not affect sanctions and other measures imposed under earlier executive orders addressing specified harmful foreign activities by the Russian government. Restrictions that were already in force before the Graham Act remain in place under the stated terms.

This distinction matters because the new law added another layer of potential penalties to an existing sanctions framework. Waiving provisions of the new law does not automatically restore access to every restricted Russian bank, company, individual or transaction.

Businesses must continue to check the relevant rules before engaging in transactions involving Russian entities or other sanctioned parties. The legality of a particular transaction can depend on the identity of the parties, the type of goods or services involved, applicable licences and other restrictions.

The waiver should therefore be understood as a change to specified new measures, not a broad normalisation of US-Russia economic relations.

Can Trump Reinstate the Tariffs and Sanctions Later?

Yes. The executive order states that the waivers remain effective until the president or the designated senior officials determine that further action is appropriate.

The order also requires officials, including the US Trade Representative working with relevant departments, to monitor Russian energy purchases and possible sanctions-evasion activity. They must report developments that could indicate a need for additional action.

This arrangement leaves the administration with considerable discretion to adjust its approach as energy markets and geopolitical conditions evolve.

If the administration later determines that the measures should be applied, businesses and trading partners could face renewed uncertainty over tariffs and sanctions. Any future action would need to be assessed against the law, the executive order and applicable exceptions.

For companies with exposure to US trade, the important point is that the current waiver is not necessarily permanent. Compliance teams should continue to monitor official announcements rather than assume the issue has been resolved indefinitely.

The Impact on Global Oil Markets

The waiver comes at a time when energy prices are a major consideration for governments, manufacturers and consumers. Restrictions on major purchasers of Russian oil can influence demand patterns, shipping routes and the availability of alternative supplies.

If buyers reduce Russian purchases in response to sanctions, they may seek crude from other producers. Depending on the supply response, that shift can increase competition for alternative barrels and put upward pressure on prices.

Conversely, a decision to waive the new measures reduces the immediate threat of additional trade penalties under the law. It may allow existing purchasing arrangements to continue, subject to other applicable restrictions and commercial decisions.

However, the waiver alone does not determine the direction of oil prices. Global demand, production decisions, conflicts, shipping conditions and inventories all influence energy markets.

For countries that import large volumes of crude, the price and availability of supplies can affect inflation, transport costs and industrial expenses. That is why sanctions policy can have implications beyond diplomacy, influencing the cost of energy across the global economy.

The Bigger Picture

Trump’s decision illustrates the tension between using economic sanctions as a foreign-policy tool and managing the domestic and international costs of those measures. The Graham Act sought to increase pressure on Russia by targeting its energy trade and countries buying its oil and gas. The waiver delays the application of many of those new provisions, reflecting the administration’s stated national-interest rationale.

For India, China and other energy importers, the immediate risk from the specified new tariffs has eased. But the broader sanctions framework remains in place, and the White House retains the option to revisit the waiver. The decision therefore changes the near-term policy position without ending the wider dispute over Russian energy revenues, trade and the war in Ukraine.

Looking Ahead

The next development to watch is whether the US administration keeps the waivers in place or later decides to activate some of the measures. Officials will continue monitoring Russian energy purchases and sanctions-evasion activity, while governments and businesses assess how the decision affects trade, fuel costs and compliance obligations. Any subsequent change would need to be read alongside existing sanctions and the exceptions written into the law.

For energy importers and exporters, the waiver provides temporary relief from specified new tariff threats but not a guarantee of stable trade conditions. Companies should continue to check official US guidance, review their exposure to Russian-linked transactions and prepare for the possibility of further policy changes. The wider economic impact will depend on how energy markets respond and whether Washington ultimately restores any of the measures it has suspended.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What sanctions and tariffs has Trump waived?

Trump has waived many new sanctions, restrictions and duties authorised under the 2026 Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. These include specified tariff provisions targeting Russian goods and goods from certain major buyers of Russian oil and gas.

2. Why did Trump waive the measures?

The executive order cites the national interest of the United States. The decision comes amid concerns about high energy prices and the potential economic effects of imposing broad new tariffs.

3. Does the waiver end all US sanctions against Russia?

No. The order preserves earlier sanctions imposed under existing executive orders. It applies to specified provisions of the new law and does not broadly remove all restrictions on Russian entities or transactions.

4. How could the decision affect India?

The waiver reduces the immediate risk from the specified new tariff provisions linked to purchases of Russian-origin energy. It does not remove every existing US trade measure or guarantee a permanent exemption from future action.

5. Can the US bring the tariffs back later?

Yes. The waivers remain in effect until Trump or designated senior officials determine that further action is appropriate, under the terms of the executive order.

6. Will the decision automatically lower global oil prices?

Not necessarily. The waiver may reduce the immediate threat of additional trade penalties, but oil prices also depend on global supply, demand, production, inventories, shipping conditions and geopolitical developments.