Trump Waives Jones Act For 60 Days Amid Iran War
60-day waiver lets foreign ships move oil between U.S. ports as the administration seeks to ease fuel prices amid disruptions tied to the Iran war.
ReasonA temporary waiver of the Jones Act only illustrates why the law should be permanently trashed
The Gateway PunditTrump Suspends 100-Year-Old Law in Bid to Lower Oil Prices | The Gateway Pundit | by Nick Givas, The Western Journal
FortuneWhite House suspends the Jones Act for 60 days. Analysts see a gas price impact of 3 cents | Fortune
Raw StoryTrump ploy to combat self-imposed oil crisis may send gas prices even higher in red states
Overview
President Donald Trump issued a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed, allowing foreign-flagged ships to transport oil, gas and other commodities between U.S. ports.
The Jones Act, signed in 1920 by President Woodrow Wilson, requires cargo moved between U.S. ports be carried on U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged and U.S.-owned vessels, and fewer than 100 compliant tankers exist, PGIM's Daleep Singh said.
A coalition of nine U.S. maritime labor groups said it was "deeply concerned" the waiver undermines national security, weakens military readiness and hands critical maritime work to foreign vessel operators.
Markets reacted: Brent traded roughly $107.38 to nearly $109 per barrel, U.S. crude ranged roughly $96.32 to about $97 per barrel, and AAA said U.S. pump prices rose 86 cents per gallon since the war began.
Analysts said the waiver eases domestic fuel movement and supports the 172 million-barrel Strategic Petroleum Reserve release, but will have limited impact on global prices, experts including Rachel Ziemba said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the waiver as proof the Jones Act is protectionist and economically harmful, using loaded terms ("protectionist," "whacky") and selective sourcing (economists/libertarians, Cato Institute) while portraying unions as a narrow special interest. Editorial choices—rhetorical questions, repetition, and a concluding normative judgment—push repeal as the obvious outcome.
FAQ
The Jones Act, or Merchant Marine Act of 1920, requires that cargo transported between U.S. ports be carried on U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged, and U.S.-owned vessels crewed by U.S. citizens.
The waiver allows foreign-flagged ships to transport oil, gas, and commodities between U.S. ports to ease fuel prices amid disruptions from the Iran war and support the Strategic Petroleum Reserve release.
A coalition of U.S. maritime labor groups argues it undermines national security, weakens military readiness, and gives critical work to foreign operators.
Brent crude traded at $107.38 to $109 per barrel, U.S. crude at $96.32 to $97 per barrel, and U.S. pump prices rose 86 cents per gallon since the war began.
Yes, previous waivers include those after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and Hurricane Rita in 2005 to address fuel shortages.
