Trump waives new Russia sanctions and tariffs days before they were due to start

President Trump signed an executive order on Friday suspending the main Russia penalties in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The measures had been set to begin on Oct. 18, according to the order posted on the White House website.

Trump signed the law on Sept. 18. It is named for the late South Carolina senator, who pushed for it before he died in July, ABC News reported.

What the order does

The order sets out the tariffs the law calls for and then waives them, along with most of its sanctions provisions. The waived measures include:

• A 500% tariff on goods from Russia
• 100% tariffs on goods from the five biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas that make new purchases
• 100% tariffs on the top five helpers of Russian oil sanctions evasion

Sanctions already imposed under earlier Russia-related orders are not affected, the White House text says. The president told Congress the waivers serve the national interest. They stay in place until he or the secretary of state decides further action is needed. The U.S. trade representative will monitor Russian energy purchases and report back.

Reaction

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said enforcing the penalties now would hinder peace talks, ABC News reported. The network said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis called the move "beyond irresponsible," and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer also criticized it. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who opposed the bill, welcomed the waiver.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the decision does not stop the war, according to ABC News. In Moscow, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev praised the suspension, Outlook India reported.