Trump Waives Russian Energy Sanctions to Avoid Steep Tariffs on India and China

United States President Donald Trump formally waived specific sanctions, restrictions, and duties tied to Russian energy exports under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Citing the national interest of the United States, the executive directive temporarily suspends the implementation of potential tariffs of up to 100 percent that threatened top purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

The legislation, which Trump signed into law in September, was championed to pressure Moscow over its military actions in Ukraine by penalizing major importers of Russian crude and natural gas. Although the law granted the executive branch discretionary authority to impose steep secondary tariffs on the top five purchasing nations, it also included an explicit national interest waiver clause. By invoking this clause, President Trump submitted a formal certification to Congress to halt the immediate enforcement of the penalties.

Analysts note that the waiver suspends rather than permanently cancels the tariffs, leaving open the possibility of future implementation depending on geopolitical developments. This decision follows recent maneuvers in US energy diplomacy, such as an arrangement enabling the US to source diesel supplies originating from Russia to ease domestic fuel pricing pressures.

While the waiver offers immediate relief to key trading partners like India and China, the evolving framework of the Graham Act highlights Washington's ongoing efforts to restrict Russian energy revenues without causing catastrophic shocks to global commodity markets.