Washington, Oct 17, 2026 12:48 IST
US President Donald Trump has waived tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods imported from the five largest purchasers of Russian oil or gas, alongside specified sanctions provisions under a newly enacted law targeting Moscow. Trump stated that the relief under the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act was executed in the national interest of the United States. The decision followed an agreement reached between the US and Russia for diesel supply to American and international markets.
In an executive order signed on Friday night, Trump stated that he was waiving the application of the sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act. He confirmed that he had formally submitted a certification to the US Congress declaring that the waiver served the country's national interest. The action prompted criticism from US Senator Richard Blumenthal, who took to social media to condemn the move and argue that it compromised national security.
The Graham Act, passed by the US Congress on September 16 and signed by Trump two days later, empowered the executive branch to levy expansive sanctions on Moscow and impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods entering the US from the top five buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas, which include China and India. The recent executive order specifically waives the duties outlined under Sections 112 and 113 of the legislation.
While the directive relieves the primary purchasers of Russian crude and natural gas from the newly authorized penalties, as well as associated tariffs on nations facilitating sanctions evasion, it leaves all other existing US tariffs on those countries unaffected. Section 115 of the Graham Act permits the president to waive such measures provided a written certification and explanatory report are submitted to Congress, requirements the White House fulfilled.
Additionally, the executive order mandates that the US Trade Representative, working alongside senior officials, continuously monitor nations regarding their acquisitions of Russian energy and any assistance with evading sanctions. These officials are tasked with alerting the president if circumstances necessitate renewed action or a formal review of the exemptions.
The order materialized just as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarked on an official visit to India. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had previously raised concerns regarding the implications of the Graham Act during discussions with Rubio at the United Nations General Assembly, noting that Indian refineries rely on specific crude blends from Russia, West Asia, and Venezuela to sustain the domestic economy amid disruptions in West Asian oil supplies.