A pause before new measures take effect
President Donald Trump will use up to 60 days to assess the economic consequences of new Russia-related sanctions and tariffs that he waived on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday. The measures were enacted under the Graham Act and had been scheduled to take effect next week.
The law calls for tariffs on Russian goods and penalties involving countries that buy Russian oil and gas. Friday’s executive order waived key provisions without specifying the duration. Rubio told reporters that the president chose a 60-day review to examine effects on both the United States and the global economy.
Energy markets complicate the decision
The review comes as conflict involving Iran has disrupted energy supplies and raised fuel prices. Applying penalties to countries that still rely heavily on Russian oil could put additional pressure on global supply and costs. Rubio cited India as an important U.S. partner that has diversified its sources but remains a major buyer of Russian energy.
The administration is also pursuing an agreement under which Russia would add diesel to global markets. Trump said an initial amount of more than 300,000 metric tons would go to the United States, with further shipments expected later. The administration presents that arrangement as a way to ease fuel costs; critics see tension between buying Russian fuel and using economic pressure to change Moscow’s conduct in Ukraine.
Supporters of pressure object
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized the waiver, arguing that reducing pressure would embolden Russia and prolong the war. Senator Darline Graham of South Carolina, whose late brother Lindsey Graham championed the legislation, also said she favored maintaining pressure and planned to raise the decision with Trump.
The objections illustrate the tradeoff at the center of the review. Sanctions are intended to impose economic costs and change behavior, but energy sanctions can also raise prices for countries applying them and for trading partners. Tariffs on third countries add another layer because they can affect relationships beyond Russia itself.
A review, not a final reversal
The waiver means the measures will not begin on their original schedule. It does not, by itself, establish that the administration has permanently abandoned them. Trump said Saturday that he had not announced a final decision. The practical result is uncertainty about what rules will apply after the review and what economic conditions will shape the outcome.
Businesses exposed to Russian commodities, shipping or trade with large energy importers will watch for guidance on timing and enforcement. Governments will look for signals about whether the review produces narrower measures, another delay or full implementation.
What the next 60 days may test
The administration must weigh whether the threatened penalties would materially reduce Russian revenue without producing unacceptable effects on fuel prices and alliances. It will also face questions about what benchmarks would justify ending the waiver.
Until a final decision is issued, the most precise description is that the sanctions framework remains law while key provisions are temporarily waived for economic review. The next policy step may depend on energy-market conditions, diplomatic negotiations and the administration’s judgment about how much pressure can be applied without amplifying costs at home.
The review period also overlaps with the closing weeks before the November midterm elections, when fuel costs are politically sensitive. That timing does not determine the policy outcome, but it raises the stakes of any change that could quickly affect pump prices. Congress may continue pressing the administration for a clearer schedule, economic analysis and an explanation of how the waiver advances the law’s intended pressure on Moscow.
Sources: Reuters report on the 60-day review · U.S. Treasury overview of Russia-related sanctions. Reporting reviewed October 18, 2026.