Donald Trump
The document has been published on the White House’s official website.
The executive order states: “…I hereby waive the application of any duties provided for in sections 112 and 113 of the ‘Graham Act’ or by this executive order. I have submitted to Congress a certification that such a waiver is in the national interest of the United States.”
As Bloomberg notes, Trump has waived the sweeping tariffs on Russian energy exports provided for in the law he signed last month, as these measures were hampering his efforts to lower diesel prices in the run-up to the US mid-term elections.
Trump invoked an exemption clause provided for in this legislation, which was initiated by the late Senator Lindsey Graham in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This legislation also enshrined and expanded sanctions targeting Moscow.
The executive order formally establishes the tariffs whilst simultaneously suspending their application, meaning that Trump can bring them into force at a later date if he so chooses.
This move gave Trump 30 days to impose 100 per cent tariffs on all goods from the five largest buyers of Russian oil. It also provided for sanctions against numerous Russian legal entities and the imposition of 500 per cent tariffs on all imports of Russian energy resources into the US. This one-month period was due to expire on 18 October.
Why did Trump do this?
When drafting the ‘hellish sanctions’ bill, Lindsey Graham hoped that it would increase pressure on Russia and ultimately force it to end the war against Ukraine. But in October 2026, Trump changed his stance. He struck a deal with Vladimir Putin for Russia to sell 5 million tonnes of Russian diesel fuel on the global market, which is expected to bring down energy prices.
In this way, Trump is seeking to lower diesel prices in the US, which, in the weeks leading up to the 3 November election, are hovering at record highs.
Waiving the law also helps to avoid a potential conflict with the largest buyers of Russian energy products – China, India and Turkey.
This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.
Follow our updates
Have information for the newsroom? Share it with Logos-Press
Comments
0No comments yet. You can start the conversation.
Comments are open to readers with a Logos Press account.
Sign in to comment