Overview
- The White House announced on Monday a 90-day renewal of the Jones Act waiver that will take effect Aug. 17 and restrict the carve-out to certain energy cargos.
- The new rules require the Pentagon to consult the U.S. Maritime Administration and approve waivers on a per-voyage basis, and add geographic and commodity limits designed to protect some domestic routes.
- Official Maritime Administration figures show roughly 210 waiver voyages have moved about 55 million barrels of fuel since March, a record cumulative suspension of the century-old law.
- Supporters including the American Petroleum Institute say the waiver boosted domestic deliveries of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, while critics say there is no public evidence it has lowered pump prices and warn it harms U.S. shipbuilding and mariner jobs.
- The Jones Act requires U.S.-built, -owned and -crewed vessels for coastwise trade, and opponents urge narrower, vessel-specific waivers to avoid long-term investment uncertainty for U.S. shipyards and national-security risks from foreign crews.