Containers are stacked at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday.
Damian Dovarganes/AP
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Damian Dovarganes/AP
The Trump administration has implemented a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act to attempt to decrease gasoline prices, which have increased following the U.S. and Israel’s military actions against Iran.
The Jones Act, a maritime law over a century old, mandates that goods transported between U.S. ports must be carried on vessels built and registered in the U.S. By temporarily suspending this requirement, foreign-flagged ships can access domestic shipping lanes, which could lower shipping expenses and hasten deliveries.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on X: “President Trump’s decision to issue a 60-day Jones Act waiver is another measure to handle short-term oil market disruptions while the U.S. military pursues Operation Epic Fury. This waiver will enable essential resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to be freely transported to U.S. ports for sixty days, and the Administration remains dedicated to reinforcing our vital supply chains.”
Nonetheless, experts suggest that waiving the act will not significantly reduce gas prices. According to the most recent data from the American Automobile Association, the average gas price at the pump is currently $3.842 per gallon, marking an increase of approximately 80 cents from the previous month.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
