Trump to review US law banning Russian oil imports, says ‘It might be a bad law’

November 6, 2026

Washington, DC: US ​​President Donald Trump has questioned the US law banning the import of petroleum products from Russia. He indicated that he would review the law. However, amid the controversy surrounding the import of Russian diesel, Trump has not announced any policy changes.

When a reporter told Trump that the law was passed by the US Congress and signed by then-President Joe Biden in 2022, he said, “It’s probably a very bad law. I’ll definitely look into it.”

During a conversation in the Oval Office, the reporter raised the issue of a ship carrying Russian diesel and heading towards the US by sea. The reporter also questioned the legal restrictions on unloading the ship’s fuel.

Trump initially asked whether this ban fell under the Jones Act. The reporter clarified that the matter concerned a separate law passed in 2022.

However, Trump did not provide a timeline for reviewing the law or propose amendments. He also did not clarify how his administration would reconcile the diesel import permit with the existing legal ban. He also did not announce that the import ban had been lifted.

US Treasury Department Grants Special Exemption Until April 7, 2027

This matter is significant because the US Treasury Department had already granted a separate authorization in this regard approximately four weeks ago.

On October 9, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License 135. This permit permitted certain financial transactions normally prohibited under two Russia-related sanctions regulations, provided they involved the sale, delivery, shipment, or import of Russian-origin diesel.

This document also explicitly includes the import of Russian diesel into the US. This special authorization will remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 7, 2027.

However, this license excludes withdrawals from accounts held by the Russian Central Bank, National Wealth Fund, or Ministry of Finance in US financial institutions. This permission applies specifically to diesel, not to the resumption of normal trade with all Russian petroleum products.

2022 Law Bans Imports of Russian Petroleum Products

On the other hand, the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act, formally approved on April 8, 2022, imposes a separate ban on the import of Russian products listed in Chapter 27 of the US Tariff Schedule.

The law sets out a strict process for lifting this ban. Under this law, the President must certify that Ukraine has accepted an agreement regarding Russia’s withdrawal and a cessation of military action. Furthermore, Russia’s immediate military threat to NATO member states must cease and Ukraine’s right to self-determination must be recognized.

This process also requires prior consultation with relevant US Congressional committees. A 90-day review period is also set before the sanctions can be lifted after the President’s certification. However, if Congress passes a resolution of dissent during this period, the process of lifting the sanctions could be halted.

In this context, a license issued by the Treasury Department does not automatically prove that the full process for lifting the sanctions prescribed by law has been followed.

New Jersey Governor Protests Trump Administration’s Decision

Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has formally objected to the permission to import Russian diesel. She wrote a letter to port and terminal operators on November 2, three days before Trump’s recent remarks, protesting this decision.

Sherrill stated, “The Trump administration’s permission to import Russian fuel directly conflicts with federal law.”

She argued that the law does not give the executive authority to completely circumvent the import ban by issuing licenses.

Sherrill warned businesses against accepting deliveries of Russian petroleum products. He also said that New Jersey will use all available legal and regulatory measures to prevent such imports.