The White House announced on Monday that President Donald Trump had extended a waiver allowing foreign-flagged vessels to carry oil and goods between American ports for an additional 90 days. New limits were added after shipbuilders and lawmakers argued the measure harmed the domestic maritime sector.
The decision was finalized amid disruptions to global oil supplies caused by US-Iran conflict, which has raised fuel costs and prompted efforts to ease transport limits and stabilize gasoline prices, according to Reuters.
Officials stated that each voyage by a foreign ship will now require individual approval instead of broad exemptions. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers noted the extension supports reliable supply access for the military and key industries. She added on X that data indicate the waiver has boosted domestic deliveries of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
The Jones Act, enacted in 1920, requires cargo shipped between US ports to use domestically built, owned and crewed vessels. The current waiver seeks to lower fuel prices by easing shipping rules. Originally intended to bolster the US merchant fleet after World War I, the law links commercial shipping to national security.
The waiver began in March following joint US-Israel operations against Iran. The American Farm Bureau Federation had urged the step to prevent fertilizer price spikes. Without renewal, it would have ended on 16 August, marking one of the longest suspensions of the century-old statute.
The American Petroleum Institute welcomed the flexibility for moving energy products during market volatility. Analysts cited by Reuters said the measure may cut gasoline prices by only a few cents per gallon. The American Maritime Partnership expressed regret over the extension but preferred case-by-case reviews and called for checks on US vessel availability before approving foreign ships.
