Trump extends and narrows US Jones Act shipping waiver

The Trump administration is extending its waiver of the Jones Act, the century-old maritime law that requires cargo moving between US ports to travel on American-built, American-flagged, and American-crewed vessels. But the renewed waiver comes with a catch: its scope is being narrowed, with geographic limits and stricter shipment reviews designed to thread the needle between cheaper fuel and a domestic shipping industry that feels like it’s being thrown overboard. The waiver, first issued for 60 days in March 2026 amid energy market disruptions tied to tensions with Iran, was subsequently extended for 90 days. That extension runs through August 16, making it the longest suspension of Jones Act protections in the law’s 106-year history. A law from 1920 meets 2026 fuel prices The Jones Act, formally known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, was designed to protect the US maritime industry and ensure national security by keeping domestic shipping routes in American hands. In practice, it means that moving oil from, say, Houston to New York requires a vessel that was built in a US shipyard, flies a US flag, and is owned by US citizens. With national gasoline prices averaging above $4 ...