Trump temporarily waives maritime shipping law to ease energy costs
The Hindu
Trump temporarily waives maritime law to lower energy costs amid rising gasoline prices from the Iran-Israel conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) temporarily waived a century-old shipping law to help ease energy costs that have surged since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the West Asia into war.
Mr. Trump's move to issue a 60-day Jones Act waiver would lift a ban on foreign-flagged vessels transporting cargo between U.S. ports over this period.
Iran-Israel war updates on March 18, 2026
The 1920 law was aimed at promoting American shipbuilding, but critics argue that it hampers free trade and has raised costs for consumers.
Mr. Trump's latest move is "just another step to mitigate the short-term disruptions to the oil market as the U.S. military continues meeting the objectives of Operation Epic Fury," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement.
She was referring to the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive launched against Iran on February 28.
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