Trump Waives Graham Act Russia Sanctions Before Deadline

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday waiving new sanctions and tariffs on Russia required under the Graham Act, two days before they were set to take effect, according to ABC News. It is the second time in two weeks Trump has waived Russia sanctions.

What does the order waive?

The order covers every operative section of the law pertaining to Russia, ABC News reported. That includes a requirement to impose tariffs of up to 500% on all Russian goods, such as oil and gas. It also includes a separate 100% tariff requirement on the top five buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, and on the top five countries that help Russia evade oil sanctions.

The order further waives requirements to sanction foreign banks that do significant business with Russian state-owned banks and financial messaging services used to evade sanctions. Bans on purchases of Russian sovereign debt, on U.S. investment in Russia, and on U.S. banks and brokers processing transfers to the Russian government or Russian officials are waived as well, ABC News reported.

The order does not touch existing sanctions imposed by earlier executive orders. But it waives a statutory provision that had required those existing sanctions to stay in place, ABC News reported, which clears the way for Trump to act on them unilaterally later.

Why did Trump issue the waiver now?

Trump told Congress the waivers were issued "in the national interest," according to the order cited by ABC News. The order did not provide further detail.

ABC News reported Trump is turning to Russian President Vladimir Putin to help relieve rising diesel prices. Last week, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a general license, running through April, authorizing the sale, delivery and import of Russian diesel into the United States. The license is tied to a deal under which Russia would supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel to the U.S. and global markets, ABC News reported. Without Friday's waiver, the Graham Act would have required tariffs on Russian petroleum products such as diesel and sanctions on ships carrying them.

Trump told Congress the waivers were issued "in the national interest."

What is the Graham Act and when did it pass?

The law is named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died in July and had lobbied heavily for its passage, according to ABC News. It targets Russian political officials and oligarchs, banks and financial institutions, and Russia's so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to evade sanctions. Congress passed the bill by large margins, and Trump signed it into law last month, ABC News reported. The sanctions and tariffs it authorizes were due to take effect Oct. 18.

How have lawmakers responded?

Four Republican senators — Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and John Cornyn of Texas — urged Trump on Tuesday to rescind the diesel deal and implement the sanctions instead, ABC News reported. The outlet's headline notes the waiver has drawn backlash from "some lawmakers and Zelenskyy," referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though the article does not include a direct quote from him.

ABC News reported the moves have heightened tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy as Trump leans on Putin for help with diesel prices rather than enforcing the new penalties against Moscow.

What is the timeline of events?

• July 2026: Sen. Lindsey Graham dies after lobbying for Russia sanctions legislation bearing his name.
• Last month: Congress passes the Graham Act by large margins; Trump signs it into law.
• Last week: Treasury's OFAC issues a general license through April authorizing Russian diesel imports as part of a supply deal with Russia.
• Tuesday: Four Republican senators urge Trump to rescind the diesel deal and enforce sanctions.
• Friday, Oct. 16: Trump signs the order waiving all operative Russia provisions of the Graham Act.
• Oct. 18: The date the waived sanctions and tariffs were originally set to take effect.

How long will the waiver last?

ABC News reported the waivers issued Friday will remain in place, though the article does not specify a fixed end date within the material available. The diesel import license runs through April, tied to the broader supply arrangement with Russia.

The order leaves intact sanctions already imposed through prior executive orders, even as it removes the statutory requirement that those sanctions remain permanent, according to ABC News.