President Donald Trump waived key Russia-related US sanctions and tariffs days before they were to take effect under a law he signed last month, including duties on the country’s goods and penalties for buying its oil and gas.In an executive order released by the White House on Friday, Trump said the waiver was in the national interests of the United States.
The law is meant to increase pressure on Russia for its attack on Ukraine that began in 2022.
Trump, however, has been warming toward Moscow while publicly criticising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, including suggesting Kyiv needs a new leader.
Weeks before US midterm elections in which Trump’s Republicans are battling to maintain their narrow grip on both chambers of Congress, the new measures could have risked further raising oil prices as Americans face increased costs largely attributed to the US-Israeli war on Iran, analysts have said.
The legislation, whose primary backer in Congress was the late Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% within 30 days on all goods brought into the US from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas, as well as any country that knowingly bought oil or gas 30 days after the law was enacted or was among the top five countries helping Russia evade sanctions.
