Overview
- White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said a limited waiver is under consideration for national defense purposes, with no final decision.
- U.S. oil companies and shipping groups have been told to prepare for a potential suspension, according to Reuters reporting.
- Plans discussed include 30-day waivers that would let foreign-flagged vessels carry fuel from the Gulf Coast to East Coast refiners.
- The move is being weighed to counter fuel price spikes tied to disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz and comes alongside a 172 million barrel SPR release within an IEA-coordinated 400 million barrel drawdown.
- Past waivers have been rare, most notably after the 2017 hurricanes, when foreign ships were temporarily allowed to transport fuel between U.S. ports.