US President Donald Trump has waived many sanctions, restrictions and duties that were due to take effect under a new law targeting Russia, days before they were to come into force, the White House said on Friday.
The measures were part of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which Trump signed into law in mid-September. The law would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% within 30 days on all goods brought into the US from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas, as well as any country that knowingly bought oil or gas 30 days after the law was enacted or was among the top five countries helping Russia evade sanctions.
In an executive order issued on Friday, Trump said he had submitted to Congress a certification that issuing the waiver at this time was in the national interest of the United States.
Countries such as India, among the biggest buyers of Russian oil, had raised concerns about the sanctions bill. The waiver removes the immediate threat of additional tariffs on major buyers of Russian energy, including India and China.
The waiver does not remove all existing US sanctions on Russia. Measures imposed under earlier executive orders remain unaffected.
The move comes as Trump has publicly criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, including suggesting that Ukraine needs a new leader, and as Washington has pressed Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian oil facilities.