Russia was about to face a new American tariff wall. Donald Trump has decided it can wait. The president signed an executive order on October 16 waiving the 500% duties on Russian goods, giving Moscow another reprieve a week after his diesel agreement with Vladimir Putin.
The decision also suspends separate 100% duties aimed at major buyers of Russian energy and countries helping Moscow evade oil sanctions. Those measures were due to take effect on October 18. Trump used a national-interest exemption in legislation he signed on September 18, stopping much of its new economic pressure before it could begin.
Trump sets out the penalties, then waives them
The White House order implements the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Its structure is striking: one section lays out sweeping tariff increases, while another waives their application.
Trump explained the move this way:
As described further in section 4 of this order, I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act. I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States.
The 500% duty applies to Russian goods. The separate 100% increase targets goods from the five largest importers of Russian crude and natural gas if they knowingly make new purchases on or after October 18. Another 100% increase covers goods from the top five facilitators of Russian oil sanctions evasion.
The waiver covers those duties and numerous sanctions provisions. Other sanctions imposed under separate Russia-related executive orders remain in place. This is substantial relief from the new law, while the existing sanctions system continues.
There is no fixed expiration date. The waivers remain effective until Trump or the secretary of state, consulting other officials as appropriate, decides further action is warranted. Trade officials must keep monitoring Russian energy purchases and sanctions evasion, leaving the administration able to revisit the decision.
The call neither man wanted to end
The Kremlin's account of their October 9 call was unusually warm. Aide Yury Ushakov's official readout described birthday greetings and a conversation lasting an hour and a half:
The highly fruitful, I would say, friendly conversation between the Presidents lasted an hour and a half. No one wanted to hang up first.
Ushakov added that Trump was ready to keep talking that evening, overnight and the next day. Asked who finally ended the call, he said they did so simultaneously.
As previously reported by Apex, Washington authorized Russian diesel transactions after Trump's October 9 call with Putin. Trump promoted additional fuel supplies as a way to ease costs for American consumers, farmers and truckers. Ukraine warned that more Russian energy revenue could help finance a longer war.
The new waiver extends that policy choice beyond diesel permissions. It also shields countries buying Russian energy from the new trade penalties, preserving business that the law was designed to make more expensive.
For Kyiv, the disagreement is about what Moscow should have to give up in return. President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought reciprocal restraint on attacks against energy infrastructure. Washington has moved ahead with sanctions relief while that dispute remains unresolved.
Congress pushes back, Europe holds its line
A fresh challenge is already taking shape in the House. Representative Gregory Meeks introduced the bipartisan Prohibit Corrupt Russia Oil Deals Act on October 16, seeking to block the diesel arrangement. Republican Representative Don Bacon is among its cosponsors.
The proposal would bar U.S. International Development Finance Corporation support for Russian energy, nullify specified Treasury licenses, including the diesel authorization, and require sanctions on Russian energy businesses. It is proposed legislation, with no force of law yet.
Meeks rejected Trump's argument that the fuel deal would help Americans:
This deal won't lower costs for the American people, who are already paying for Trump's failed war of choice in Iran. It will hand Putin millions of dollars to continue slaughtering Ukrainian civilians with impunity.
Europe's message on October 16 went in the opposite direction from the waiver. Appearing alongside Zelensky in Brussels, European Council President Antonio Costa said:
This is no time to withdraw the support to Ukraine. This is no time to relieve Russia's sanctions. Now it's time to increase our support. To increase our pressure.
Congress gave Trump both the sanctions machinery and the discretion to hold it back. He has chosen the waiver. Reversing that choice now rests with the administration, unless lawmakers can pass new limits on its authority.