US President Donald Trump has suspended a new package of sanctions and tariffs against Russia before its scheduled October 18 start. His executive order blocks measures aimed at Russian businesses and countries buying Russian energy, reversing plans to increase economic pressure over the war in Ukraine.

The measures fall under the Lindsey Graham Act, which Trump signed in September. The White House published the order exempting the sanctions, restrictions and tariffs from implementation.

Tariffs and financial restrictions put on hold

The package included tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods. It also provided for tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas.

Those energy buyers faced the additional duties if they continued making new purchases from October 18. The law also targeted Russian officials, banks and energy companies, alongside tankers described as part of Russia’s shadow fleet used to export oil.

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Other provisions covered restrictions on new US investment in Russia and imports of Russian uranium, according to the newspaper Politika. The suspension applies to the new measures under the act.

Trump cites US national interest

Trump said in the executive order that he had notified Congress that the exemptions were in the national interest of the United States. He gave no detailed explanation for that assessment.

Under the order, the exemptions will remain in force until the president or secretary of state decides otherwise. No fixed end date was announced.

The decision follows Trump’s announcement after an October 9 telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that he would ease sanctions to allow Russian diesel imports. Trump said that move would help lower energy prices.

Moscow welcomes decision as US lawmakers object

Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s presidential envoy for investment and foreign economic cooperation, welcomed the suspension. He said economic cooperation between Russia and the United States could strengthen global stability and help build trust and lasting peace.

Several US lawmakers criticized the decision. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren described it as a failure of leadership, while Congressman Don Beyer called it a betrayal of Washington’s Ukrainian partners.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, one of the law’s authors, said the exemptions had nothing to do with US national security. European Union leaders also expressed regret over Washington’s decision and said their sanctions would remain until Russia ended the war.