Trump waives sanctions threatening 100% tariffs on India and China

Summary

President Donald Trump waived some Russia-related sanctions that threatened 100% tariffs on India and China, the Hindustan Times reports. The paper says the decision has been interpreted as an effort to keep US domestic energy prices low ahead of November’s midterm elections. Earlier, Semafor reported that Washington hoped Trump would spare India from tariffs, which it said posed a risk to US-India relations.

Timeline

1. Semafor

   16 Oct 2026, 20:08 UTCSource ↗

   Semafor reported that Washington hoped Trump would spare India from tariffs, which it said posed a risk to the US-India relationship.

2. Hindustan Times

   17 Oct 2026, 01:53 UTCSource ↗

   The Hindustan Times reports that Trump waived some Russia-related sanctions that threatened 100% tariffs on India and China, and says the decision has been interpreted as a move to keep US domestic energy prices low ahead of November’s midterm elections.