McConnell Joins Senators Demanding Trump Rescind the Russian Diesel Licence as the Graham Act Deadline Nears

On 13 October a bipartisan group of senators wrote to the President demanding that he withdraw from his 9 October deal with Vladimir Putin, rescind Treasury’s General License 135 allowing Russian diesel imports, and use the new Russia sanctions law against Moscow and its backers, “especially China.” Signers include Republicans Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, and Democrats Richard Blumenthal, Jeanne Shaheen, Dick Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jack Reed and Chris Coons.

“This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our Allies; it should be rescinded,” the letter says. “Putin is a tyrant.”

The President answered the day before. “I made the right choice for the American People,” he wrote, adding: “ALWAYS, AMERICA FIRST!”

The House

In the House, Republican Brian Fitzpatrick plans to force a vote on a bill blocking Russian oil purchases, the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act, with Don Bacon co-sponsoring. Republican candidates in close races have criticised the deal too, including Mike Rogers, running for the Senate in Michigan, and Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a “filthy deal.”

The Wall Street Journal estimates the diesel exemption could earn Russian energy companies about $4.5 billion. Treasury’s sanctions arm says the licence is “in compliance with all applicable laws.” Critics cite the 2022 Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act, which requires consultation with Congress and presidential certifications before the ban can be lifted. We covered the first round of objections in an earlier post.

The Graham Act clock

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, signed on 18 September, requires tariffs of up to 100% on the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas within 30 days, putting the deadline at about 18 October. As of 13 October there was still no public country list, rate or waiver. The President can waive the tariffs with a written national interest certification to Congress.

By Axios’s conversion, the President’s announced volumes come to about 2.24 million barrels of diesel at once and 3.73 million more the following month. The global diesel shortfall is about 1 million barrels a day, according to Kpler. US diesel is still above $6 a gallon.

Why it matters

McConnell’s signature matters. The former Republican leader rarely joins letters opposing the President, and his name brings the count of Republicans publicly against the deal into the double digits across both chambers. With Congress out until after the election, a letter is what senators can do. The real decision point is this weekend, when the Graham Act’s tariff deadline passes and the President either imposes, waives, or ignores it.