US Treasury allows sanctions waiver on Russian seaborn petrol

The Trump administration on Saturday allowed a sanctions waiver to lapse that had previously allowed countries including India to buy Russian seaborne oil after a month-long extension aimed at easing oil supply shortages and high prices due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.



U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously said he would not renew the general license allowing the purchase of Russian oil stored on tankers.



As of early afternoon Washington time on Saturday, no renewal notice had been posted on the Treasury website.



A Treasury spokesperson declined further comment.



Two top Democratic U.S. senators, Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren, on Friday urged the Trump administration against renewing the waiver, arguing that it was providing revenue to Russia to aid its war in Ukraine, but there was no evidence it was bringing down fuel costs for American consumers.



The prior extension was part of the Trump administration's effort to control global energy prices that have shot higher during the Iran war, including loans from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and a temporary waiver of a shipping rule known as the Jones Act.



In addition, President Donald Trump has said he supported pausing the 18.4-cent-a-gallon federal tax on gasoline.