US President Donald Trump intends to use up to 60 days to assess the consequences of suspending sanctions and tariffs under a recently enacted law related to Russia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on October 17, according to Reuters.
According to Rubio, US officials intend to assess the potential impact of the measures before making a further decision. He spoke not only about sanctions against Russia but also about possible tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy, including India.
Reuters notes that the executive order signed by the president on Friday did not specify how long the waiver of those measures would last. The 60 days mentioned by Rubio refer to a prospective assessment period, not a deadline for ending the suspension set out explicitly in the document.
The secretary of state’s comments therefore do not mean that sanctions will automatically be reinstated after 60 days or permanently lifted. They clarify how the White House may proceed with its review of the issue.