Trump waives new Russia tariffs as October 18 oil deadline arrives
The waiver has no fixed expiry, and any Bitcoin benefit depends on how it affects inflation and financing conditions. Read the full story on CryptoSlateUnderstand the crypto stories that matter and what to watch next. Get The Catalyst in your inbox
President Donald Trump waived new Russia-linked duties in an October 16 order, keeping those additional tariffs from applying as October 18 arrives. The date is a condition for targeting certain countries over new Russian-energy purchases; the waiver changes one potential inflation and financing-cost risk for Bitcoin.
The order implements the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. It specifies additional duties of 500% on Russian goods and 100% on goods from two country groups: the five largest Russian oil and gas importers that knowingly make new purchases on or after October 18, and the top five facilitators of Russian oil sanctions evasion. Exceptions apply, and the same order waives the duties.
The waivers have no fixed expiry. They remain effective until the president or secretary of state determines further action is appropriate, consulting the Treasury secretary and US trade representative as appropriate.
Earlier sanctions also survive within the order’s specified scope. It preserves measures under executive orders addressing the Russian harmful-foreign-activities emergency as they stood immediately before the act’s enactment, including measures against persons already sanctioned under those orders.
CryptoSlate’s September 19 report framed October 18 as an implementation test and identified waivers as a possible limit on the shock. The administration has now exercised that authority, leaving future waiver decisions as the next policy trigger.