Trump Waives Russia Oil Sanctions, Suspends 100% Tariff Threat — SkimNews
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- Trump invoked a national interest waiver to halt trade penalties on major purchasers of Russian energy, suspending a threatened 100% tariff before it took effect.
- India emerged as a key beneficiary of the waiver, receiving significant relief on Russian oil imports alongside China.
- The U.S. Treasury-directed move specifically paused sanctions provisions outlined in the Graham Act before they could be enforced, per The Hill's framing.
- Trump cited rising domestic fuel prices and energy market pressures as drivers of the reversal, with the decision landing ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
- The White House cast the shift as a strategic recalibration aimed at stabilizing global energy supplies, marking a notable departure from its earlier hard-line posture.
Why it matters: By suspending sanctions on Russian oil buyers ahead of the midterms, Trump is effectively trading geopolitical pressure on Moscow for cheaper gasoline at home — giving India and China continued access to discounted Russian crude while undercutting the bipartisan Graham Act sanctions architecture before it ever took bite.
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