Trump Signs Order Waiving Russia Sanctions Under Graham Act

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving sanctions and tariffs against Russia under the Graham Act, the White House website and Bloomberg reported.

The order states verbatim: I hereby waive the application of any tariffs provided under sections 112 and 113 of the Graham Act or this order. I have submitted to Congress certification that such waiver is in the national interest.

The Graham Act, formally the Sanctions Targeting Aggression with Restrictions on Aggressor Nations (STARTAN) Act, was passed by Congress to impose automatic economic penalties on Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Trump's decision to waive these provisions marks a significant shift in US policy toward Russia and Ukraine, and comes amid broader negotiations over a potential peace deal. Ukrainian officials and European allies reacted with alarm, warning that removing economic pressure on Moscow undermines incentives for Russia to engage in good-faith negotiations.