President Donald Trump on Friday signed an order putting the new Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 into effect, then waived its tariffs and most of its sanctions in the same order, according to the text released by the White House.
Trump signed the act into law on Sept. 18. Friday’s order says he has sent Congress a written certification that the waivers serve the “national interests of the United States,” as the law requires.
The duties on paper
The order sets three tariff increases under the law. Each one is then waived in Section 4.
- Russian goods: A 500 percent increase in the duty rate on goods from Russia.
- Buyers of Russian energy: A 100 percent increase on goods from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, if a country knowingly makes new purchases on or after Oct. 18, 2026.
- Sanctions evaders: A 100 percent increase on goods from the top five countries that help Russia get around oil sanctions.
What the waivers cover
Section 4 waives every duty in the law’s tariff sections. It also waives most of the act’s sanctions and restrictions on foreign and U.S. persons, listing sections 102(a), 102(d), 102(e), 103 through 111 and 117.
- How long: The waivers stay in place until the president, or the secretary of state working with the Treasury secretary and the trade representative, decides further action is needed.
- Existing sanctions stay: The order says it does not change sanctions already imposed under earlier executive orders tied to the Russia national emergency Trump continued on March 24, 2026.
- Who watches: The U.S. trade representative will track purchases of Russian oil and gas and which countries help Russia evade sanctions, working with the State, Treasury and Energy departments. It must report regularly and tell the president promptly if anything points to “the need for further action.”
Who carries out the law
The order hands the law’s powers to the State Department, the Treasury Department, the Energy Department and the trade representative, split by section. The power to grant or change waivers goes to the secretary of state, working with the Treasury secretary and the trade representative as needed.
Earlier this month, Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Source: White House presidential action “Implementing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” Oct. 16, 2026.
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