Key facts
- President Trump waived sanctions and tariffs under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act.
- The legislation would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on countries importing Russian oil or gas.
- India had previously expressed concerns about the sanctions bill.
- Representative Don Beyer criticized the waiver as an abuse of power.
US President Donald Trump used his executive authority to waive numerous sanctions and tariffs on Russia under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. The law, signed in September and set to take effect on Sunday, would have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on the top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India, and sanctioned Russian officials and financial institutions. Trump stated in an executive order that the waiver is in the US national interest. The move follows Trump's announcement of an agreement to purchase Russian diesel, a decision criticized by US allies and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.