US President Donald Trump has put on hold a sweeping package of sanctions and tariffs aimed at buyers of Russian energy, a move that spares India and China the threat of steep duties. He did so late Friday, a day before the penalties were due to begin under a law he signed last month.
In an executive order, Trump said the waiver was in America’s interest. “I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act. I have submitted to Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interest of the United States,” he said.
The relief may not be permanent. The order only suspends the Russia-linked measures, so Trump remains free to bring them into force later.
The law in question is the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, named for the senator who was among Kyiv’s firmest backers in Washington. Graham died in July, soon after coming back from a visit to Ukraine. The act gave the president 30 days to make a move, with the deadline falling on October 18. It called for 100 per cent tariffs on goods from the five largest buyers of Russian crude, namely China, India, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan. It also provided for a 500 per cent tariff on US imports of Russian energy products, along with sanctions on Russian banks, energy firms, officials, and foreign entities backing Moscow’s military effort. President Vladimir Putin was among those covered.
For India, a 100 per cent levy would have come on top of the 10 per cent duty already imposed over its handling of goods made with forced labour. The real effect on exporters could only have been judged once rates were announced. Relations were already tested last year, when Trump added a 25 per cent penalty on Indian purchases of Russian crude to a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff. The penalty was withdrawn in February 2026, and the reciprocal rate was cut to 18 per cent under a bilateral trade framework.
When Congress cleared the bill last month, New Delhi signalled it would guard its economic interests. “As stated on several earlier occasions, India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people. It will continue to do so through diversified sourcing and based on evolving market dynamics,” the foreign ministry said. It added that talks with US officials on the matter had been held at senior levels. “Its potential implications for not just the bilateral relationship but also the international energy market have been very clearly articulated by the Indian side,” the ministry said.
The decision comes as Trump’s tone toward Moscow has softened. Last week he announced an arrangement with Putin to bring Russian diesel to the United States, with an initial supply of over 300,000 tonnes and more to follow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised it, calling it “unworthy of our partners” and a “weak decision”, and said Russia had shown its “thanks” by striking Ukraine.
Trump, meanwhile, has questioned Zelensky’s leadership. “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal. For some reason (Zelensky) never does,” he said.
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