Trump waives new Russia sanctions and tariffs under recently signed law
President Trump has waived a package of new sanctions and tariffs on Russia shortly after signing the measure into law, with outlets differing on how to characterize the move and its ties to a reported Russia-US diesel deal.
What happened
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving sweeping new sanctions and tariffs on Russia that were mandated under a law he had signed into effect last month.13491014
The law, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, had targeted Russia's energy revenues and granted authority to impose duties on buyers of Russian oil and gas.1410
Trump told Congress the waiver was issued on national interest grounds.68914
The move follows Trump's earlier statement that the US had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to help lower global energy prices.1512
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
- Trump signed an executive order waiving or suspending sweeping new sanctions and tariffs on Russia that had been mandated under a new law.1234567891011121314
- Trump cited US national interest as the basis for the waiver.168914
- The underlying law is named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, its primary congressional backer, and was signed by Trump in September.14810
- The waiver comes after Trump said the US had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to help lower global energy prices.1512
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
Scale and specificity of the tariffs involved
Anadolu Agency
The executive order raises duties on Russian goods by 500% and targets major importers of Russian energy, with suspension on national interest grounds.13
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| Russian state mediaRussia & Eurasia | TASS reports the suspension factually and notes no time limit is specified; RT uses a critical epithet attributed to describe the sanctions' severity while reporting Trump's national interest rationale.28 | no time limit specified, national interest cited, sweeping sanctions |
| UK and European outletsEurope | BBC and Financial Times frame the move critically, with FT describing it as a reprieve for Putin following a diesel deal, and BBC noting the law was meant to punish Moscow for the war; DW and RTÉ report more neutrally on the waiver mechanics.391214 | reprieve for Putin, law meant to punish Moscow, national interest justification |
| Middle East outletsMiddle East & Turkey | Jerusalem Post and Arab News report the legislative and executive order details neutrally, including the Graham Act's authority over Russian oil and gas buyers; Anadolu Agency emphasizes the specific 500% tariff figure and its suspension.41013 | Graham Act authority, 500% duties, suspension on national interest grounds |
| South and Southeast Asian outletsSouth Asia | The Hindu and NDTV report the waiver with attention to its benefit for major energy buyers like India and China, while Straits Times notes Trump has been warming toward Russia.6711 | relief for India and China, warming relations with Russia, national interest certification |
| East Asian and Oceania outletsEast Asia | South China Morning Post and Sydney Morning Herald both connect the sanctions pause to the diesel purchase announcement, describing Trump's move as unexpected.15 | diesel deal with Putin, unexpected timing, national interest reasoning |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed reported detailed reactions from Ukrainian officials to the waiver.
- None of the outlets reviewed specified exactly which sanctions or tariffs remain in effect versus which are waived, beyond general references to energy-related measures.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported on congressional reaction to the waiver of a law it had recently passed.
- Details of the reported US-Russia diesel deal, such as volumes or pricing, were not covered in the outlets reviewed.
Why it matters
Sources (14)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
Europe
- 3RTÉ NewsIEPublic broadcaster
- 9BBC NewsGBPublic broadcaster
Trump waives several Russia sanctions as new US law takes effect
- 12Financial TimesGBPrivate
Trump exempts Russia from further sanctions mandated by new law
- 14Deutsche WelleDEPublic broadcaster
Russia & Eurasia
- 2TASSRUState-controlled
Trump suspends sanctions against Russia under new law until further notice
- 8RTRUState-controlled
Middle East & Turkey
- 4The Jerusalem PostILPrivate
Trump waives some sanctions, restrictions, duties on Russia in Graham Act
- 10Arab NewsSAPrivate
Trump signs executive order waiving new Russia sanctions, tariffs
- 13Anadolu AgencyTRState-controlled
Trump waives tariffs, many sanctions under new Russia sanctions law
South Asia
East Asia
- 1South China Morning PostHKPrivate
Trump pauses Russian sanctions package after striking diesel deal with Putin
Southeast Asia
- 7The Straits TimesSGPrivate
Trump waives many Russia-related sanctions, tariffs before they were to take effect under new law
Oceania
- 5The Sydney Morning HeraldAUPrivate