#sanctions

An executive order dated October 16 (EO 14436) waives the sanctions, restrictions and tariffs in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which President Trump signed into law on September 18. The law called for a 500% duty on Russian goods and 100% duties on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas and on the top facilitators of sanctions evasion. The order says the president certified to Congress that the waivers are in the national interest; they stay in place until the administration decides further action is appropriate. Sanctions under earlier executive orders on Russia are not affected.

AP reports the waiver came days before the provisions were due to start and drew criticism from both parties. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis called it "beyond irresponsible," noting the Senate passed the law 86-11, and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Trump's "deal with the devil keeps getting dirtier." Congress is in recess until after Election Day. The waiver follows Trump's announced deal to import Russian diesel, which Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) has introduced a bill to block.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on the International Criminal Court as an institution, cutting it off from U.S.-based financial services and technology companies and from using U.S. dollars. U.S. companies and individuals doing business with the court have six months to wind it down. The administration objects to the court's investigations into the United States and its allies, including Israel. The ICC called the move "an assault on the rule of law," and Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement of strong disagreement. The Netherlands, the court's host, has discussed using the EU's blocking statute in response.