Graham Law (H.R. 5334, Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026)
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Trump suspends Russia sanctions under Graham Law two days before deadline
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 16, 2026, waiving the application of sanctions, restrictions and tariffs against Russia provided for by the so-called "Graham Law," just two days before the law's 30-day implementation deadline was set to expire on October 18. The order formally establishes the law's tariffs but suspends them, leaving Trump free to activate them later; previously enacted U.S. sanctions on Russia remain in place. The move drew sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers and from the law's co-author, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and came a week after Trump announced a deal with Vladimir Putin to bring Russian diesel fuel to U.S. and world markets.