US President Donald Trump has waived key sanctions and tariffs linked to Russia before they could take effect. He said the decision served the national interest of the United States.
In an executive order released on Friday, Trump suspended measures under a law he signed in September. The legislation aimed to increase pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022. However, the president’s waiver delays the implementation of key penalties.
Read more: Trump waives new Russia sanctions as relations with Ukraine slump
The law proposed tariffs of up to 100% on goods from major buyers of Russian oil and gas. It also targeted countries that knowingly purchased Russian energy or helped Moscow evade sanctions. The legislation sought to discourage international trade that could support Russia’s economy.
Trump said the waiver would remain in effect until he or senior officials decided further action was necessary. Meanwhile, China and India, two major buyers of Russian oil, had raised concerns about the legislation. India warned that additional tariffs could affect its relationship with Washington.
The decision comes as Americans face rising energy costs, partly linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Analysts warned that the new measures could push oil prices higher before the US midterm elections. Trump’s Republican Party is seeking to maintain its narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.
Read more: Donald Trump Says Russia Will Supply Millions of Tons of Diesel
The waiver drew criticism from Democratic Representative Don Beyer, who accused Trump of yielding to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He argued that the decision undermined Ukraine and weakened Congress’s efforts to punish Russia. Some Republican senators had also criticised a separate diesel deal involving Russian exports and sanctions relief.
However, Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the waiver as a historic development. He argued that the legislation could have severely restricted economic cooperation between Russia and the United States. The latest decision leaves the future of the sanctions measures dependent on further action by Trump or his senior officials.