President Donald Trump has extended a waiver of the Jones Act for another 90 days, reports AP News. The decree, issued on August 10, relaxes the ban on foreign ships transporting goods between U.S. ports, and is aimed at facilitating the cheaper movement of including oil, fertilizers and other fossil fuel products.
Trump first waived the 1920 law containing the Jones Act on March 17, and announced an extension in April as the war in Iran drove up fuel and other prices. This subsequent extension will take effect on August 17.
Unlike the previous extensions, the Pentagon will consult with the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration to decide which voyages are exempt from the Act, focused entirely on cargoes that are sources of energy and commodities related to agriculture such as fertilizers and soybean oil.
AP news reports that Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman, said the administration extended the waiver “to ensure our military and key industries maintain uninterrupted access to critical resources.” Rogers added that, so far, the waiver has increased domestic deliveries of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
