President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving new sweeping US sanctions and energy tariffs on Russia just hours before they were scheduled to take effect.
The official justification
The White House submitted formal certification to Congress invoking “national interest” exemptions, effectively freezing penalty enforcement.
Trump stated that imposing full duties at this moment could disrupt ongoing delicate diplomatic talks and global energy stability.
What the law demanded
The measure stems from the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. The law mandates a 500% tariff increase on Russian products and a 100% duty on nations purchasing significant volumes of Russian oil and gas.
However, the presidential waiver delays these penalties indefinitely until the administration or the Secretary of State deems further measures appropriate.
Political and international backlash
The sudden waiver drew immediate criticism from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Key congressional leaders argued that waiving sanctions weakens Washington’s leverage against Moscow during critical negotiations.
Meanwhile, foreign energy importers welcomed the temporary relief, avoiding steep economic tariffs on crucial imports.
