Stories
Trump Waives Russian Oil Sanctions And Tariffs For India
- •US President Donald Trump has waived sanctions and tariffs related to Russian energy exports for India and China.
- •The waiver was executed under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, citing national interest.
- •The directive suspends the implementation of potential 100 percent tariffs, though the US president retains the power to apply them later.
- •The decision comes as India and the US are working towards finalising a trade deal.
Key Questions Answered
US President Donald Trump waived sanctions and tariffs related to Russian energy exports under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which he signed in September, keeping the national interest in mind.
No, the directive only suspends the implementation of Russia-related tariffs and does not stop their full imposition. The American president retains the authority to apply the tariffs at a later time of his choosing.
Last year, Trump imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian imports of Russian crude alongside a 25 percent reciprocal tariff. Furthermore, the US currently imposes a 10 percent tariff on New Delhi's imports as a penalty for not doing enough to stop goods made using forced labor. However, the additional crude tariffs were removed in February 2026 and the reciprocal tariff was reduced to 18 percent.
