Trump Extends Jones Act Waiver Past Midterms Amid Soaring US Gas Prices
US President Donald Trump has extended a waiver of the Jones Act, which reserves shipping between US ports for American-flagged vessels. The move aims to ease rising gasoline prices driven by instability in the Middle East.
The Jones Act was enacted in 1920 to strengthen US shipping capacity after World War I. Past presidents have only briefly waived the law for specific voyages, citing temporary causes such as natural disasters or pipeline shutdowns. Trump's waiver is broader and longer-lasting than any previous administration's.
Trump first waived the Jones Act for 60 days in March following the war with Iran, then extended it for another 90 days in April. The latest extension will push the waiver past the November 3 midterm elections. Rising US gasoline prices have reached $4.003 a gallon, up from around $2 before the airstrikes on Iran.
The White House says this move aims to increase domestic US shipments of essential products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. The covered goods are restricted to specific types of oil and gas, and not all foreign vessels are allowed to participate in the waiver.