Trump signs order waiving Graham Act sanctions on Russia

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving new sanctions and tariffs on Russia required under the law named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham just two days before they were set to take effect.

The move effectively neutralizes the law by lifting provisions that barred the president from removing sanctions against Russia and preventing a host of new sanctions and penalties from taking effect on Oct. 18 -- the deadline set by the law.

While the order will not lift sanctions currently imposed against Russia, it gives the administration much wider latitude going forward to decide which sanctions to keep in place without being bound by the law’s requirements.