US Domestic — 2026-10-17

Trump Signs Executive Order Waiving Russia Sanctions Under Graham Act Before Deadline

BLUFTrump's Graham Act waiver is very unlikely to be revoked by November 17, preserving his diesel deal with Putin through the election window without congressional override leverage.

President Trump signed an executive order dated October 16 waiving the Graham Act's duties, its section 102(d) sanctions, and sanctions under sections 102(a), 102(e) and 103 through 111 and 117, after certifying to Congress that the waiver serves the national interest 1. The order leaves in place sanctions under earlier Russia-related executive orders and keeps the waivers in effect until the President or Secretary of State decides further action is appropriate 12. Business Standard reported that the waived measures included 100 percent tariffs on the top five buyers of Russian crude, whose 30-day deadline expired October 18, and 500 percent tariffs on Russian energy imports 3. Fox Business and Business Standard tied the waiver to Trump's diesel deal with Putin, and Business Standard reported that a bipartisan Senate group had demanded this week that he rescind that deal and enforce the law 23.

Analysis
Trump or the Secretary of State is very unlikely to revoke or rescind the Graham Act waiver, in whole or in part, by November 17. Confidence is high because the signed order sets no expiry date and reporting consistently ties the waiver to his diesel deal with Putin ahead of the November 3 elections. The White House order is the primary document, and The Hill, Fox Business and Business Standard independently converge on its scope and motive. The statute's waiver authority, previously untested, has now suspended every tariff and sanctions trigger before the October 18 deadline. Congressional pushback, including the bipartisan Senate letter, shows no mechanism to force reinstatement, and delegation keeps the decision inside the executive branch. The waiver may instead be a bargaining tool, with selected duties reimposed if Moscow fails to deliver diesel. If it holds, buyers in India, China and Turkey face no tariff exposure and Senate sponsors must turn to oversight or new legislation.

4 sources

Implementing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 - The White House
Russian sanctions, tariffs under Graham Act waived by President Donald Trump - Fox Business
Trump waives Russia energy tariffs and sanctions under Graham law - Business Standard
Trump waives Russian sanctions outlined in Graham Act before they take effect - The Hill