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US President Donald Trump has suspended the implementation of tariffs, restrictions and sanctions targeting countries that purchase Russian energy, using a waiver provision in legislation championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, Bloomberg reported on October 17.
The legislation was designed to increase economic pressure on Russia over its war against Ukraine and also included provisions to expand sanctions against Iran.
“I am hereby waiving the imposition of such sanctions, restrictions and tariffs under the Graham Act at this time,” Trump said in an executive order, adding that he had certified to Congress that the exemption was in the national interest of the United States.
The directive formally establishes the tariffs but suspends their enforcement, leaving Trump the option to impose them at a later date.
Under the legislation, Trump had 30 days to impose 100% tariffs on goods from the five largest buyers of Russian oil. It also provided for sanctions against numerous Russian businesses and 500% tariffs on all Russian energy imports into the United States. The deadline was set to expire on October 18.
The decision could trigger opposition in Congress, including among Republicans who have criticized the administration's diesel agreement with Russia, according to Bloomberg.
Earlier this week, a bipartisan group of senators signed a letter urging Trump to terminate the agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and enforce the provisions of the Graham Act.
Waiving the measures also helps Washington avoid a potential confrontation with major buyers of Russian energy, including China, India and Turkey.
Graham developed the legislation before his death in July, and its passage had been viewed as a way to honor his legacy. He had repeatedly argued that the proposed sanctions were essential to pressuring Putin into negotiations and ending Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
A day earlier, 22 US lawmakers had urged Trump to impose what they described as “hellish sanctions” on Russia and Iran to increase pressure on Moscow to engage seriously in peace talks.
Separately, lawmakers introduced legislation aimed at blocking the Trump-Putin diesel agreement and prohibiting investments in Russia's energy sector.
