US postpones new levies on Russian trade
President Trump temporarily suspends sanctions and import duties as Washington assesses the economic consequences.
There is news on this story (Sunday, 18 October 2026, 12:22): Rubio: Trump taking up to 60 days to decide on sanctions
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The United States is temporarily suspending new sanctions and import duties on Russia and countries that buy Russian energy. President Donald Trump says he first wants the consequences for US interests to be analysed.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday temporarily suspending parts of the new Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. Among other provisions, the law introduces higher import duties on Russian goods and additional levies on countries that make new purchases of Russian oil and gas. The measures could have taken effect from Sunday 18 October.
According to the White House, the administration can impose a 500 per cent duty on goods from Russia. An additional 100 per cent duty was envisaged for goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas if those countries bought new Russian energy after 18 October. The order contains exceptions and a formal option to let the measures lapse or reintroduce them.
Trump writes that he is temporarily dropping the sanctions, restrictions and duties because he considers this to be in the national interest of the United States. The White House gives no end date for the pause in the executive order. The pause reportedly lasts about 60 days, during which the economic consequences will be examined; that period is not fixed.
The measure could particularly affect countries that still import Russian energy. The US government wants their purchases to be monitored by trade and energy authorities. The order does not say that existing sanctions against Russia are disappearing entirely. It concerns specific measures from the new law and the conditions under which they would be applied.
The uncertainty could also be relevant to European companies. A US duty on countries that buy Russian energy could affect trade flows, energy prices and the competitive position of industries. However, as long as the pause continues, it cannot be established whether such effects will actually occur. It is also unclear which countries Washington will designate as the five largest importers and how exceptions will be applied in practice.
The decision forms part of the broader debate over how the United States wants to put economic pressure on Russia. Supporters of the postponement may point to the prevention of unexpected harm to US consumers and businesses. Opponents may fear that a pause reduces pressure on Moscow and creates uncertainty over the credibility of future sanctions. The White House has not announced that the underlying law will be repealed.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The White House has temporarily suspended specific sanctions, restrictions and duties from a new US law.
- The announced measures could affect Russian goods and countries that buy new Russian energy, among others.
- The US government wants the economic consequences to be assessed first.
Left
Arguments A pause can be seen as scaling back economic pressure on Russia and as a risk to international solidarity with countries affected by the war.
Values The international rule of law, solidarity with victims and restraint towards economic policies that could primarily affect consumers.
Consequences Less pressure on Russia could weaken Ukraine's negotiating position, while unclear sanctions could also harm businesses and workers.
Centre
Arguments A temporary assessment may be defensible if the government first wants to establish the legal and economic effects. Sanctions must remain enforceable and targeted.
Values Institutional diligence, predictability and proportionality.
Consequences Postponement gives companies time to adapt, but could prolong uncertainty as long as it remains unclear when the measures might take effect.
Right
Arguments The United States must protect its own economy and prevent sanctions from unnecessarily burdening US consumers, energy supplies and businesses.
Values National interests, economic freedom and restraint regarding foreign obligations.
Consequences A pause could protect the US economy, but under this approach it can be credible only if Washington has a clear alternative means of pressuring Russia available.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article's core is based directly on the White House executive order. Uncertainties about the duration and application of exceptions are explicitly marked as uncertain.
- confirmed Trump signed an executive order on 16 October 2026 concerning the sanctions law against Russia and Iran. — Dated executive order from the White House. source
- confirmed The order provides for a possible 500 per cent duty on Russian goods. — Mentioned in section 2 of the order. source
- confirmed An additional 100 per cent duty on goods was envisaged for certain countries. — Mentioned for the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas. source
- uncertain The pause lasts about 60 days. — This was mentioned in reporting, but is not set as a fixed end date in the order consulted. source
Editor's note
The White House confirms the executive measure and the temporary exemption. The precise length of the pause and its practical consequences for individual countries are not yet fully known.Sources
The story so far
- Sunday, 18 October 2026, 11:03 US postpones new levies on Russian trade (this article)
- Sunday, 18 October 2026, 12:22 Rubio: Trump taking up to 60 days to decide on sanctions
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