What changed
President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday night withholding numerous Russia sanctions as a law passed by Congress took effect on 18 October.
The Lindsey Graham law targets Russia’s economy, senior officials, banks and the “shadow fleet” of tankers. It also allows tariffs of up to 100% on the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India. The order says withholding some sanctions is in the US “national interests.”
Why it matters
This creates a direct clash between Congress’s attempt to increase pressure on Moscow and the president’s decision to limit that pressure. The law was designed to make Russia’s economy more costly to support, including for major purchasers of its energy. Trump’s order means some of that leverage may not be applied.
The timing makes the dispute sharper. Trump has also announced a plan to import Russian diesel to help lower US energy prices before November’s midterm elections. That proposal has drawn criticism from lawmakers and Ukraine, while a bipartisan group of 20 legislators urged him to implement the Graham law “to its fullest extent and without delay.”
The immediate outlook is uncertain because the order does not identify which sanctions were withheld or say how long the waivers will last. The practical effect on the proposed diesel imports is also not confirmed. What is clear is that the new law’s impact now depends partly on how much authority the White House chooses to exercise.
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