The White House on the 16th issued an executive order in which President Trump
invoked a presidential waiver under the 2026 Lindsey Graham Russia and Iran
Sanctions Act to defer multiple sanctions, restrictions and tariffs targeting
Russia. The waiver suspends a planned 500% tariff on Russian imports and a 100%
tariff on countries that are major importers of Russian energy or that aid
evasion of oil sanctions. It also delays measures aimed at the Russian central
banks, major commercial banks, state-owned enterprises, government officials, and
restrictions on Russian investment, energy trade, sovereign-debt purchases and
related financial transactions. The Act was signed into law on Sept. 18 and
required many measures to take effect within 30 days; the waiver postpones their
implementation but does not repeal the law. Sanctions imposed under other
statutes and executive orders remain in force.
