US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) signed an executive order waiving key Russia-related sanctions and tariffs under the Graham Act, telling Congress that the decision was in the national interest.
Trump waives key sanctions under Graham Act, cites national interest
In the executive order, he said it was in the country's "national interest" to withhold some of the sanctions and added, "I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act."
The US President further said that he had submitted a certification to Congress stating that issuing such a waiver at this time was in the country's national interest. The sanctions under the Act, which Trump signed last month, were set to take effect in just two days, AP reported.
To waive the sanctions, Trump invoked Section 115 of the Graham Act, which, according to the White House, "authorizes the President to waive the application of any sanctions provision with respect to a foreign person, any restriction with respect to a person, and any duty under the Graham Act, subject to the submission to Congress of a written certification that such a waiver is in the national interests of the United States and a report explaining the basis for the certification."
This story will be updated with additional details.