White House to extend Jones Act waiver as deadline nears, sources say
Sources say President Trump is likely to extend the Jones Act waiver allowing foreign vessels to haul cargo between U.S. ports. The post White House to extend Jones Act waiver as deadline nears, sources say appeared first on FreightWaves .
The Trump administration is considering yet another extension of a temporary Jones Act waiver, set to expire on November 15, in order to maintain a shipping option that addresses fuel transportation issues and cost containment, according to sources. The current authorization permits foreign-flagged ships to transport specific commodities like fuel and fertilizer between U.S. ports, instead of halting all coastwise shipping.
Introduced in March and extended twice since August, the waiver has been subject to individual-voyage assessments by the Maritime Administration and Department of War. Domestic maritime interests have urged the administration to let the waiver lapse, citing potential negative impacts on U.S. shipyards and a need for waivers to focus on national-defense situations.
In contrast, foreign shipowners are showing less interest, likely due to tighter reviews, clarification of tax obligations, and strong earnings in international tanker operations. The waiver's influence on retail gasoline prices and mainland propane shipped to Puerto Rico has been minimal, amounting to pennies per gallon and a 100% price gap, respectively, according to analysts.
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