ترمب يعلّق تنفيذ عقوبات أمريكية جديدة على روسيا

U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending the implementation of a broad package of economic sanctions and new tariffs imposed on Russia and countries dealing with it in the energy sector, less than a month after signing the law that enacted these measures, justifying his decision as being in the national interest of the United States.

The decision, issued (on Friday), came two days before the scheduled start of some measures, marking a notable shift in the U.S. administration's stance on sanctions aimed at increasing economic pressure on Moscow due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

According to the executive order published on the official White House website, Trump used the extraordinary powers granted to him by law to suspend the implementation of the sanctions, restrictions, and tariffs included in the decision, while keeping the option to reactivate them later.

Sanctions Approved Less Than a Month Ago

Trump had signed on September 18 the "Lindsey Graham Act to Impose Sanctions on Russia and Iran for 2026," which was approved by the U.S. Congress with the aim of tightening pressure on the Russian economy and reducing the financial resources Moscow obtains from energy exports.

The law includes measures targeting the Russian energy and defense sectors, as well as entities that assist Moscow in circumventing sanctions, and oil transport networks associated with what is known as the "shadow fleet."

It also stipulates the imposition of tariffs and sanctions on countries and companies that continue to deal with the Russian energy sector under the conditions specified in the law.

Tariffs Up to 500% on Russian Products

The measures that were suspended included additional tariffs of up to 500% on goods imported from Russia, along with a 100% tariff on U.S. imports from specific countries that import Russian oil or gas.

The latter tariffs target, according to the law, the five largest countries importing Russian energy, as well as some countries that continue to purchase oil and gas from Moscow after the specified deadlines, in addition to entities that help circumvent the sanctions imposed on Russian energy exports.

Implementing these measures would have increased pressure on several of the United States' trading partners, primarily China and India, which are among the largest importers of Russian oil.

Trump Relies on Exemption Authority

The White House clarified that Trump relied on Article 115 of the law, which allows the U.S. president to exempt entities or transactions from sanctions and tariffs if he believes it serves the national interests of the United States.

The executive order confirmed that the president submitted to Congress an official certification stating that issuing exemptions at this time aligns with the national interest, along with a report detailing the basis for the decision.

The published text of the executive order did not provide a detailed explanation of the economic or political reasons that led Trump to use this authority.

The decision stipulated that the exemptions would continue until the president or senior officials deemed it necessary to take additional measures.

Concerns Over Rising Energy Prices

The suspension of sanctions comes at a time when global energy markets are experiencing sharp fluctuations and rising prices, amid concerns over disruptions in oil supplies and the repercussions of geopolitical tensions.

Trump had announced in recent days that an understanding had been reached with Russia regarding diesel supplies, in a move he said aims to help reduce fuel prices.

This approach has drawn criticism from U.S. lawmakers who believe that easing restrictions on Russian energy exports could provide Moscow with additional financial resources to continue the war in Ukraine.

Analysts believe that implementing broad tariffs on countries importing Russian oil could lead to increased trade tensions and higher energy costs, at a time when the U.S. administration is facing internal pressures due to rising prices.

Criticism Within Congress

The decision has sparked objections from members of Congress, including Democratic Representative Don Beyer, who accused Trump of capitulating to Russian President Vladimir Putin and undermining the primary goal of the legislation.

Beyer argued that suspending the sanctions contradicts Congress's intent to increase pressure on Moscow due to its war in Ukraine, calling for a review of the law to ensure its objectives are met.

The legislation had received broad support from both the Republican and Democratic parties, viewed as a tool to strengthen sanctions on the Russian economy and the entities that contribute to its funding.

Previous Sanctions Still in Effect

Despite the suspension of the new package, the executive order clarified that the decision does not affect previous U.S. sanctions and measures imposed on Russia under other executive orders.

This means that the current exemptions do not represent a comprehensive lifting of U.S. sanctions on Moscow, but rather a suspension of the implementation of additional measures specified in the law enacted last September.

The decision also tasked U.S. entities, including the Departments of State, Treasury, Energy, and the Office of the Trade Representative, with continuing to monitor Russian oil and gas purchases and tracking countries that assist in circumventing sanctions.

Thus, the U.S. administration retains the option to reactivate the new tariffs and sanctions if it determines that political or economic developments warrant such action, while the future of these measures remains tied to decisions from the White House and developments in the war in Ukraine and global energy markets.