Trump Waives Russia Sanctions and Tariffs Before Start Date

RUSSIA SANCTIONSWaiver issuedMINUTE PULSE NEWS

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U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a press conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025.

US President Donald Trump has waived key Russia-related sanctions and tariffs days before they were due to take effect, Reuters reports. The measures came from a law he signed in mid-September and included duties on Russian goods and penalties for buying Russian oil and gas.

The White House released the executive order on Friday, 16 October 2026. In it, Trump said the waiver served the national interests of the United States. Ukraine's president criticised the move, while an envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed it.

Key facts

Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in mid-September.
His executive order waives its key sanctions and tariffs before they took effect.
The waiver stays in place until Trump or his senior officials decide that "further action is appropriate", according to the order.
The law lets a president waive sanctions by informing Congress that doing so is in the national interest.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the decision encourages Putin to keep attacking.

What happened

The law was meant to increase pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022. It would have allowed tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five biggest importers of Russian crude oil or gas. The same tariffs could have applied to any country that knowingly bought Russian oil or gas 30 days after the law took effect, or that was among the top five helping Russia evade sanctions.

Trump said he had sent Congress a certification that the waiver was in the national interest. That step is all the law requires to set the penalties aside.

Reactions

Zelenskiy said on X on Saturday that easing pressure on Moscow only encourages continued attacks. He said Russia struck more than 15 Ukrainian power generation and transmission sites on Friday. Virginia Democrat Don Beyer, a member of the US House of Representatives, said Trump was giving in to Putin and ignoring the intent of Congress.

Putin's investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, called the waiver "a truly historic moment" in a post on X. He said the legislation could have halted economic cooperation between Russia and the United States.

Background and context

Reuters reports that Trump has been warming towards Moscow while publicly criticising Zelenskiy, including by suggesting Ukraine needs a new leader. He has also faced criticism from several US senators, some of them Republicans, over a recent diesel deal. Under that deal, Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Russian exports, and Russia agreed to supply diesel to global markets to help lower fuel prices. The critics said it would help fund Russia's war.

The timing matters politically. With midterm elections weeks away, analysts told Reuters that the new measures could have pushed oil prices higher while Americans already face rising costs, which analysts largely attribute to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

China and India, two of the biggest buyers of Russian oil, had raised concerns about the sanctions law. Beijing said it opposes jurisdiction that reaches beyond a country's borders without a basis in international law. India warned Washington that new tariffs could affect relations between the two countries.

What this means for you

Fuel prices. South African petrol and diesel prices follow international oil prices and the rand exchange rate. Analysts quoted by Reuters said the sanctions could have lifted oil prices. By waiving them, Washington has removed that particular risk for now. Oil prices still depend on many other factors, so this does not guarantee cheaper fuel.

Trade. Reuters does not mention South Africa in its report, and nothing in the waiver changes South African law. Businesses that trade with the countries named in the law, including India and China, are the most likely to follow developments closely.

What happens next

The waiver has no end date. It lasts until Trump or his senior officials decide further action is appropriate.
Watch whether US lawmakers respond, given the criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans.
The US midterm elections, now weeks away, are the political backdrop to any further decision.

Frequently asked questions

What did Trump waive?

He waived key sanctions and tariffs created by a law he signed in mid-September. They included duties on Russian goods and penalties for buying Russian oil and gas.

Why did he do it?

The executive order says the waiver is in the national interests of the United States. Analysts told Reuters the measures could have raised oil prices before the midterm elections.

Is the waiver permanent?

No end date has been set. The order says it stays in effect until Trump or his top officials decide further action is appropriate.

Can the president do this without Congress?

According to Reuters, the law allows a president to waive sanctions by informing Congress that he has determined they are not in the national interest.

Editor's note

This report is based on Reuters coverage published on 17 October 2026. The situation is developing, and further reaction from governments and lawmakers is likely.