Trump extends Jones Act waiver for 90 days, narrows scope

President Donald Trump has extended a waiver for 90 days that permits foreign-flagged ships to transport goods between U.S. ports. This extension, finalized on Monday, comes with new limitations. The White House stated that shipbuilders and their congressional allies had argued the original policy was harming the domestic maritime industry. The extension aims to ensure uninterrupted access to critical resources for the U.S. military and key industries, particularly as global crude flows are disrupted by the war with Iran, leading to increased fuel costs and pressure to ease transport bottlenecks.

President Donald Trump has extended a 90-day waiver of the Jones Act, allowing foreign ships to transport energy products and agricultural commodities like fertilizers between U.S. ports. This waiver, first implemented in March to ease price pressures following the war with Iran, will take effect on August 17. The extension suggests anticipation of continued price pressures due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Under this new waiver, the Pentagon will collaborate with the Maritime Administration to determine which voyages are exempt. A White House spokeswoman stated the extension aims to ensure uninterrupted access to critical resources for the military and key industries, noting it has already boosted domestic deliveries of fuels.