Trump Exempts Russia From New Congressional Sanctions Under Graham Act
The White House published a presidential decree late Friday exempting Russia from new congressional sanctions, as Ukraine faces mounting concerns over potential abandonment by Washington.
The Presidential Exemption Under the Graham Act
Donald Trump issued an executive order bypassing new sanctions, restrictions, and tariffs mandated by the Graham Act, citing the national interest of the United States. The legislation, which was promulgated in mid-September, marked the first major legislative action by Congress against Moscow since Donald Trump returned to power, though it left broad implementation latitude to the executive branch.
The legislative package primarily targets the Russian energy sector. It aims at the Russian shadow fleet for the first time in theory, while also designating Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials.
President Can Levy Tariffs on Russian Oil Importers
The framework grants the American president authority to levy tariffs of up to 100% on the five primary importers of Russian oil and gas, a group that includes China and India. The law is named after its principal sponsor, Lindsey Graham, a staunch defender of Ukraine and vocal critic of Russia and Iran who died in July.
Volodymyr Zelensky had strongly supported the legislation during its enactment, hailing it as an extremely powerful tool to halt what he termed a terrorist war and compel Russia toward peace.
Rising Diesel Prices Intensify Political Stakes Before Midterms
Relations between Washington and Kyiv have entered a fresh crisis following Donald Trump’s announcement of an agreement with Vladimir Putin to lift specific sanctions against Moscow. That arrangement aims to permit the United States to import substantial quantities of Russian diesel.
Diesel prices in the United States have climbed sharply, surpassing 6.50 dollars per gallon for a 3.8-liter volume. The rising cost of living has intensified political stakes ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, where control of both chambers of Congress remains contested. Supply bottlenecks for refined products and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries in response to attacks on civil infrastructure have further altered global fuel flows.
TRUMP BLOCKS KEY RUSSIA SANCTIONS: President Trump has waived major sanctions, restrictions and tariffs under the Lindsey Graham Russia sanctions law he signed last month.The law threatened tariffs of up to 100% on imports from major buyers of Russian energy, alongside… pic.twitter.com/cEWn6DCmsx