Trump waives Russia sanctions mandated by Graham Act

President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving tariffs and sanctions on Russia mandated by the "Graham Act," citing US national interests. The move suspends 500% tariffs on Russian energy imports and secondary duties on major buyers. The waiver, announced Saturday, uses an exemption clause in the law named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, which was designed to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Trump formally established the tariffs but suspended their enforcement, allowing him to reimpose them later. The action aims to lower US diesel prices ahead of November 3 elections and avoids conflict with China, India, and Turkey. The decision follows bipartisan congressional backlash, with 12 senators calling a recent diesel deal with Moscow "a betrayal of the Ukrainian people." The Graham Act, signed September 19, had set an October 18 deadline for implementing sanctions, which Trump has now bypassed.