Washington -: In a major relief to India and China, US President Donald Trump has waived tariffs of up to 100% on goods im-ported from the five largest purchasers of Russian oil or gas, along with speci-fied sanctions provisions under a new law targeting Moscow, citing the national interest of the United States.
In an executive order signed Friday night, Trump waived the application of specified sanctions, restric tions and duties under the Lindsey O Graham Sanc tioning Russia and Iran Act, days after striking a deal with Russia for the supply of diesel to the US and global markets.
“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” Trump said.
Trump said he had sub-mitted a certification to Congress stating that issu-ing the waiver at this time was in the national interest of the United States.
The waiver covers the new tariffs targeting the five largest purchasers of Russian-origin crude oil and natural gas, as well as the corresponding tariffs on countries facilitating Russian sanctions evasion
US Senator Richard Blu-menthal criticised the move in a post on X. “These waiv-ers have nothing to do with our national security, & ev-erything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin. I hope my Republican colleagues will join me in condemning this craven, cowardly ac tion,” he said.
The Graham Act em-powered Trump to impose sweeping sanctions on Mos-cow and tariffs of up to 100% on goods imported into the US from the five largest pur chasers of Russian crude oil or natural gas, including China and India.
The law was passed by the US Congress Septem-ber 16 and signed into law by Trump two days later. It authorised Trump to im-
pose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas. The executive order waives the duties pro-vided for in Sections 112 and 113 of the Act or the order.
The waiver covers the new tariffs targeting the five largest purchasers of Russian-origin crude oil and natural gas, as well as the corresponding tariffs on countries facilitating Russian sanctions evasion. But it does not affect other US tariffs that may other-wise apply to imports from those countries.
“Pursuant to Section 115(a) of the Graham Act, I hereby waive the applica-tion of any duties provided for in sections 112 and 113 of the Graham Act or this order,” Trump said.
Section 115 of the Act al-lows the President to waive sanctions provisions, re-strictions and duties in the national interest, subject to submitting a written certi-fication to Congress and a report explaining the basis for the decision. The execu-tive order states that Trump submitted both documents.
The order comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio begins a visit to India from October 17 to 22.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had raised concerns about the Graham Act during a meeting with Rubio on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last month.
