US President Donald Trump has suspended key Russia-related sanctions and tariffs that were due to take effect the following week under a new law, including duties on Russian goods and penalties on buyers of Russian oil and gas, according to a report published on October 17, 2026.
The Graham Act
The measures were set out in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, signed in mid-September. The law allows the president to waive sanctions if he informs Congress that they are not in the national interest. Trump’s executive order said the waiver served US national interests and will remain in place until he or senior officials decide that “further action is appropriate.”
Kyiv: “wrong”
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the decision “wrong,” said it “definitely helps only the Russians,” and predicted further US sanctions relief for Moscow.
Moscow welcomes the move
Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev called the waiver “a truly historic moment.”
Criticism in Congress
Virginia Democrat Don Beyer said Trump was giving in to Vladimir Putin. The waiver came a week after the administration eased sanctions on Russian diesel exports under a separate deal with Moscow.
Sources
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