Trump Signs Order Exempting Russia From Sanctions Law
New York Times · LC · trust 59/100
The sanctions were part of a measure that was named after Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died in July.
Listen · 4:41 min Share full article President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia meeting in Alaska last year. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times By Alan Rappeport
The sanctions were intended to target Russian officials, oligarchs and financial institutions, and were part of a law that was named after Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died in July after spending more than a year building support for the measure. The law, which is designed to squeeze the financial lifelines sustaining Russia’s war against Ukraine, also provided Mr. Trump with additional tariff authority that he could use to punish countries that continue to trade with Russia.
The White House has broad authority to issue sanctions exemptions or waivers, and the new law requires Mr. Trump to notify Congress only if he opts against imposing the economic restrictions on Russia. Two days before the law is set to take effect, Mr. Trump exercised that power.
“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” Mr. Trump said in the order. “I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States.”
The order does not explain why waiving the sanctions is in the interests of the United States or what rationale Mr. Trump is providing to Congress for the waivers.
The decision comes as Mr. Trump has in recent weeks embraced Russia and turned against Ukraine amid frustration that Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries are pushing up oil prices around the world. Elevated oil prices are making gasoline more expensive in the United States, fueling inflation weeks ahead of midterm elections that could cost Republicans control of Congress.
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