Requests to Extend Oil Waiver
- The US said more than ten countries asked to extend a sanctions waiver allowing purchases of Russian oil. - The specific number the US cited was 'more than ten' governments requesting the waiver extension. - The wave of requests suggests many governments prioritize energy security over strict sanctions orthodoxy, raising diplomatic tension. (moneycontrol.com)
The Trump administration said it renewed a Russian oil sanctions waiver after more than 10 governments asked Washington not to cut off cargoes already at sea. (politico.com) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Senate appropriators on April 22 that “more than 10 of the most vulnerable and poorest countries in terms of energy” pressed for an extension. The Treasury Department had renewed the waiver on April 17. (politico.com) The new license, known as General License 134B, lets buyers complete transactions involving Russian crude and petroleum products loaded onto vessels as of April 17 through May 16. The Office of Foreign Assets Control posted the license on April 17. (ofac.treasury.gov) The waiver covers oil already loaded on ships, not new unrestricted Russian exports. Reuters reported the White House moved after oil prices jumped during the Iran war and after governments worried about supply disruptions. (cnbc.com) That left Washington balancing two policies at once: keeping pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine while trying to prevent a broader energy shock. The same administration had tightened pressure on Russia’s oil sector in January 2025 and again in October 2025. (home.treasury.gov 1) (home.treasury.gov 2) India has been central to the debate because it has become one of the biggest buyers of Russian crude since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Reuters reported this week that Russian oil exports to India were set to stay near record highs in April and May after the waiver was renewed. (msn.com) Bloomberg reported before the renewal that India and the Philippines were among the countries urging the Treasury Department to keep the waiver in place. The governments were seeking time to receive cargoes already on tankers before the earlier waiver expired on April 11. (bloomberg.com) The extension also drew criticism in Washington. Reuters reported on April 17 that some lawmakers accused the administration of going easy on Moscow as Russia’s war on Ukraine continued. (usnews.com) For now, the policy buys another month. By May 16, the administration will have to decide again whether shielding vulnerable importers outweighs the cost of letting more Russian oil reach market. (ofac.treasury.gov)
