In an executive order signed on Friday, Trump said the waiver was in the US national interest. He did not specify when the restrictions might be introduced, saying they would remain suspended until he or senior officials determined further action was appropriate.
The legislation, named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. It would have allowed tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from countries that continued buying Russian oil and gas or helped Moscow evade sanctions. Graham had worked for about a year to get the bill passed before his unexpected death earlier this year. Trump signed it into law last month.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the decision “beyond irresponsible”, accusing the administration of capitulating to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisers not understand?” Tillis wrote on social media on Saturday.
Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas said the late Senator Graham “would be appalled”. Democratic Representative Don Beyer of Virginia said the move betrayed Ukraine and disregarded Congress’s intent to punish Russia for its invasion. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts accused Trump of “thumbing his nose” at Congress and enabling Putin to continue the war, urging colleagues to act to reverse the decision.
The waiver comes shortly after Trump agreed to a deal to buy Russian diesel in an effort to lower fuel prices, which have risen amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. Politicians from both parties have questioned whether the deal would meaningfully reduce energy costs while providing Moscow with revenue to support its war effort.