Trump waives a 500% Russia tariff and two 100% duties before they take effect
The charges cover all goods, not just energy, and they stay written with no end date until Trump or the secretary of state decides further action is appropriate.
Key takeaways
President Donald Trump on Friday waived three new duties before they took effect: a 500% duty on all goods from Russia, a 100% duty on goods from the five largest importers of Russian crude and natural gas, and a 100% duty on goods from the five countries doing the most to help Russian oil evade sanctions.
They come from the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which Trump signed on Sept. 18. The law required them within 30 days, a deadline that falls on Sunday, Oct. 18.
The order is dated Oct. 16. Trump wrote, "I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act." His stated reason is that the waiver is in the national interests of the United States. He certified that to Congress and sent a report explaining the certification.
The rates are written, then switched off
The 500% increase applies to all goods imported from Russia. The law names oil, natural gas and coal as examples, not as the boundary of the duty.
The law allowed an increase of as much as 500% of the goods' value. Friday's order sets the Russian increase at 500% of value, then waives it. If the waiver is lifted, that is the rate already written.
Both 100% duties fall on countries other than Russia, and both would apply to all goods those countries ship into the United States, not only to oil and gas. The importer duty is written to apply to any of the five largest importers that knowingly makes a new purchase of Russian crude or natural gas on or after Sunday, Oct. 18. The order sets the same 100% increase for the five countries doing the most to help Russian oil evade sanctions. It waives both, and it does not name the countries.
The waivers have no end date. They last until Trump or the secretary of state, consulting the Treasury secretary and the U.S. trade representative, decides that further action is appropriate.
Older sanctions stay
Friday's order leaves the older Russia sanctions in place.
A week earlier, on Oct. 9, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 135. It allows transactions in Russian-origin diesel that those sanctions would otherwise bar, including imports into the United States, through 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 7, 2027. It does not cover Russian crude.
Trump has said Russia will supply diesel to the United States and global markets: more than 300,000 tons immediately, 500,000 tons in November, 1 million tons "immediately thereafter," and another 3 million tons "within a short period of time."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that he felt "betrayed" by that diesel decision.
"Our country has to survive," he said.
A Thursday letter from 22 House members, five Republicans and 17 Democrats, urged the administration to revoke the diesel license and not to issue further licenses that "reopen Russian energy transactions and restore revenue to the Kremlin's war chest."
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called the waivers a "craven, cowardly action."
"These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin," Blumenthal said.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said the president "is prolonging the war, not ending it."
The new duties stay written and uncollected.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Trump waive the new duties?
He said the waiver is in the national interests of the United States and certified that to Congress.
When were the duties supposed to take effect?
The Graham Act required them within 30 days of its Sept. 18 signing, a deadline that falls on Sunday, Oct. 18.
Which countries would the 100% duties hit?
The order does not name the five largest importers of Russian crude and gas or the five countries most helping Russian oil evade sanctions.
Do older Russia sanctions still apply?
Yes, Friday's order leaves the older Russia sanctions in place, including limits that a diesel license only partly opens.
