Trump temporarily waives century-old shipping law amid rising fuel costs
Al Jazeera
Lifting the Jones Act temporarily allows foreign ships to transport cargo across the US, but critics question the move’s efficacy.
United States President Donald Trump has waived a more than century-old maritime shipping law in an effort to quell rising fuel costs amid the ongoing US and Israeli war against Iran.
On Wednesday, the White House issued a 60-day waiver to lift the Jones Act, which would allow foreign-flagged vessels to transport cargo to US ports.
Normally, under the Jones Act, goods shipped between US ports must be carried on vessels that are US-built, US-flagged and mostly US-owned. The requirement sharply limits the number of tankers available for domestic shipments but is supported by maritime industry unions.
Those industry groups questioned whether Wednesday’s waiver would be effective in lowering fuel costs.
“Waiving the Jones Act would do nothing to reduce gasoline [petrol] prices. In fact, the primary driver of gasoline prices is the cost of crude oil, not domestic shipping costs,” leaders from American Maritime Officers, a maritime labour union, said in a letter to President Trump earlier this month.
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