President Donald Trump’s decision to waive major new Russia sanctions and tariff increases has drawn criticism from both parties, highlighting the broad discretion Congress gave him in a law enacted last month.
Trump’s Oct. 16 order waives a broad set of measures under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, signed Sept. 18 after an 86-11 Senate vote on Aug. 7. The order lists a 500% increase in duty rates on goods from Russia and 100% increases on goods from specified countries that buy Russian oil or gas or facilitate sanctions evasion, then waives those increases. For the energy-buyer provision, qualifying new purchases count from Oct. 18.
The waiver also covers specified sanctions and restrictions under the act. Sanctions imposed under earlier U.S. emergency orders on Russia remain in force, the Oct. 16 order says.
Section 115 allows the president to waive measures under the act if he first certifies to Congress in writing that the waiver serves the national interest and submits a report explaining why. The order says Trump sent both. It sets no expiration date, leaving further action to Trump or designated officials.
Trump defended the decision as a way to keep Russia in talks over its war with Ukraine, as earlier EconoTimes coverage of his defense reported. In an Oct. 18 post, he said he was negotiating peace between the countries.
The Associated Press reported that Republican Sen. Darline Graham of South Carolina said at a campaign stop that she would have kept pressure on Russia. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a Senate Banking Committee statement that Trump had disregarded Congress’s direction to intensify pressure on the Kremlin.
Congress had debated the breadth of the waiver before passing the law. In August, Reps. Gregory Meeks and Don Beyer warned that it gave the president wide authority to set aside sanctions. A separate procedure for terminating sanctions includes conditions tied to a peace agreement accepted by Ukraine and congressional review.
During Senate debate, Darline Graham said Russian energy sales helped fund the war and argued that the bill was intended to make buyers weigh U.S. trade against cheaper Russian energy. The Oct. 16 order calls for continued monitoring but gives no date for another decision on the waiver.
