Trump Extends Jones Act Waiver by 90 Days, Narrowing Scope to Energy Shipping

President Trump extended a Jones Act waiver for 90 days on Aug. 11, according to a BlockBeats report citing Jinshi. The exemption lets foreign ships carry oil and other products inside U.S. waters, but this time it comes with tighter limits. The updated waiver is aimed at energy transport. It covers gasoline, jet fuel, crude oil, naphtha, liquefied natural gas, soybean oil and fertilizer. The decision keeps the exemption alive while narrowing its reach, a shift that follows the Iran war's disruption of crude flows and rising fuel costs. A key change is that the Pentagon must now consult the U.S. Maritime Administration before deciding whether to exempt a single voyage. That adds a layer of coordination to the process. The White House said the waiver supports the military and key industries by securing access to critical resources, and it also boosts domestic transport of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Opponents, including U.S. shipbuilders and some members of Congress, counter that the waiver undermines the Jones Act's protections for the domestic shipping sector.