White House Waives Up-to-500% Russia Tariffs Two Days Before Start

The White House has waived import duties of up to 500% on Russian-origin goods just two days before they were due to take effect on October 18, 2026. An executive order issued on October 16 suspended the new tariff regime, citing US national interests as the basis for the decision.

The waived measures stem from the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, signed into law on September 18. That legislation authorized two tiers of punitive tariffs: additional duties of up to 500% on goods originating in Russia, and tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries that purchase Russian oil and natural gas or facilitate the evasion of related sanctions.

What does the waiver actually change?

The executive order pauses the application of these new duties, but it does not repeal the underlying statute. The Graham Act remains law, and the full architecture of other US sanctions against Russia stays in force. For importers, freight forwarders and logistics operators, the practical effect is narrow: the new penalties covered by the order are simply not being applied today.

The administration retains explicit authority to reconsider the waiver and implement the measures at any point in the future. That lever remains available without further congressional action, which keeps the tariff threat alive as a policy instrument even while suspended.

What are the commercial consequences?

Had the duties entered force as scheduled, they would have raised import costs dramatically for two categories of cargo. First, any goods of Russian origin entering US commerce would have faced additional tariffs reaching 500% — a level that would effectively price most such shipments out of the market. Second, goods from countries designated under the legislation for buying Russian oil and gas, or for helping others evade sanctions, would have faced duties of up to 100%.

The second tier carries the broadest exposure for global supply chains. It reaches beyond direct Russia-US trade lanes to third-country exporters whose governments or companies remain engaged in Russian energy purchases. Forwarders routing cargo through jurisdictions potentially covered by the act faced a sudden reclassification of risk on those lanes.

For now, the waiver removes that immediate cost threat. Companies must continue to comply with all other applicable sanctions, customs requirements and trade restrictions, since the order suspends only the new tariff measures and nothing else in the US sanctions framework.

Why the suspension matters going forward

The two-year rhythm of this legislation — signed September 18, scheduled for October 18, waived October 16 — shows how quickly the compliance picture can shift for trade involving Russia or Russian energy partners. Importers who had begun repricing shipments ahead of the October 18 deadline now hold a window of relief, but not legal certainty.

The White House's national-interest rationale gives the executive branch wide discretion. The same authority that paused the tariffs can restore them, and the executive order leaves the possibility of future changes explicitly open. Businesses moving goods with any connection to Russian-origin content or sanctioned energy trade will need to watch for a reversal, as implementation of the Graham Act remains an open question rather than a settled outcome.