President Donald Trump has waived tariffs and sanctions specified under the Graham Act in an executive order dated October 16, while preserving existing measures against Russia that predate the law.
The order describes new import-duty increases but waives their application. It sets out a 500% ad valorem increase for Russian goods and 100% increases for goods from two groups of countries linked to Russian energy trade. Those figures do not mean the waived increases are currently being charged.
One group comprises the five largest importers of crude oil and natural gas originating in Russia. The order ties that category to countries knowingly making new purchases on or after October 18, 2026. The other covers the five leading facilitators of evasion of Russian oil sanctions. The text does not identify the countries in either group.
The duty provisions are subject to statutory exceptions as well as the waivers. If applicable, the increases would come on top of other duties, fees and taxes. The order also waives a series of sanctions and restrictions on people under the act, rather than canceling all existing Russia-related sanctions.
The waivers have no fixed expiry date in the order. They continue until Trump or the secretary of state determines that further action is appropriate, with consultation involving Treasury and the U.S. Trade Representative where applicable.
Trump states in the order that he signed the Graham Act on September 18 and submitted Congress a national-interest certification and an explanation supporting the waivers.
The Trade Representative is directed to monitor purchases of Russian oil and gas and countries' facilitation of sanctions evasion, working with other officials. The office must report to Trump and flag circumstances that could warrant further action, including changes to the waivers.
The order distributes implementation duties among State, Treasury, Energy and the Trade Representative. It requires implementation within existing legal authority and available funding.