In an Executive Order (EO) published on October 16, 2026, the White House announced the implementation of sanctions authorized under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (the Graham Act), while simultaneously waiving the duties imposed by the legislation.

The Graham Act was signed into law on September 18, 2026, and authorizes sanctions duties of up to 500 percent ad valorem on goods originating from the Russian Federation. According to the EO, these duties were to go into effect on October 18, 2026.

However, Section 115 of the Graham Act provides the President with authority to waive the application of these sanctions. The EO states that the waiver is being issued “in the national interests of the United States.”

The “Implementing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026” EO can be found here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/10/implementing-the-lindsey-o-graham-sanctioning-russia-and-iran-act-of-2026/

The text of the Graham Act can be found here:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5334/text