Trump pauses new Russia energy penalties after diesel deal

President Donald Trump used a national-interest waiver to put key parts of a law he signed last month on hold, just before they were due to take effect. The law would have raised US tariffs by 500% on Russian goods and by 100% on goods from the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas—a way of pressuring both Moscow and the countries keeping its energy trade flowing. The move follows a separate diesel arrangement: the Treasury authorized the sale, delivery, and import of Russian diesel, including into the US, through April 7, 2027, as the administration seeks more supply amid high diesel prices. In effect, the White House is prioritizing fuel availability and potential price relief over the law’s new trade pressure for now, while earlier US sanctions on Russia remain in place.