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Trump Suspends Graham Act Sanctions And Tariffs On Russia In National Interest
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Trump signed an executive order suspending sanctions and tariffs under the Lindsey Graham Act. Cited national interest, pausing sanctions two days before their scheduled implementation.
Sanctions paused, tariffs held
President Donald Trump put on hold a sweeping package of new sanctions on Russia that he signed into law last month, telling Congress the pause was in the national interest. Trump signed an executive order on Friday, two days before a deadline in the law that would put the sanctions into effect, and the order also paused the tariffs included in the package shortly before they were set to take effect. Trump justified the move by saying it was “in the national interest” of the United States “at this time,” and the executive order stated, “Pursuant to the provisions of section four of this order, I have decided to suspend the sanctions, restrictions, and duties specified in the Graham Act.”
The Lindsey Graham for Sanctions on Russia Act for 2026 was designed to starve Moscow of money for the war by sanctioning Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers, and it directed Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five biggest importers of Russian oil or gas. The law also included an exception for countries that import less than 15 percent of Russia’s natural gas exports and are taking steps to cut them, and the executive order suspended the application of some of the sanctions, restrictions, and customs duties specified in the act.
Diesel deal fuels backlash
Trump’s decision to suspend the sanctions came a week after Trump said the U.S. had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to lower global fuel prices, despite potential harm to Ukraine in its war with Russia. The AP reported that under last week’s agreement, Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons “immediately thereafter.” The AP also reported that Blumenthal said Trump was turning his back on “the majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, and our European allies,” and Blumenthal added, “These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin.”
Don Beyer said he and others had “warned” Trump might make such a move, and Beyer called on Congress to “fix this flawed law to stop Trump from capitulating to Putin and ensure that it truly supports Ukraine.” The Al Jazeera report said Trump increasingly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, including hinting that Ukraine needs a new leader, as the sanctions pause unfolded alongside Trump’s rapprochement with Russia.
Congress, Ukraine, and elections
The sanctions law was named after late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, and the AP reported that Graham had just returned from Ukraine when he unexpectedly died in July.
The AP said the legislation had passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate by large margins, and it reported that Trump attached his signature to the legislation and then changed his mind Friday.
The AP reported that pressure was mounting as Republicans tried to hold control of both chambers of Congress after midterm elections on Nov. 3, and it also said an AP-NORC poll released on Oct. 1 found Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iran war and blame him for higher prices.
Darline Graham said in a statement after Trump signed the bill, “I wish Lindsey were here to celebrate this historic day,” and the AP reported that she was running to replace him in the Senate more permanently.
The CBC reported that Trump’s executive order put the sanctions package on hold until further notice, and it also quoted Graham saying, “It gives the president tools that he can use if he so chooses, to end the war through economic sanctions,” during a debate in Columbia, S.C.