The Trump administration has temporarily waived the Jones Act shipping law to allow foreign-flagged vessels to transport fuel and fertilizer between US ports, easing supply chain disruptions amid the Iran conflict.
The 60-day waiver aims to mitigate the short-term impact of soaring energy prices and critical fertilizer shortages for US farmers.
Relaxing the century-old law will allow coastal refiners and fuel distributors to access a larger pool of ships, including foreign-flagged vessels, to move gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products between ports.
While analysts say the move may not significantly lower pump prices, it signals a pragmatic shift by Trump, who has long championed US shipbuilding and maritime labor unions.
The conflict in Iran has sent gasoline prices sharply higher, with US gasoline prices surging since the start of US and Israeli attacks on February 28.
The administration's waiver is one of several emergency measures to counter the economic fallout from the Iran conflict, including releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and adjustments to sanctions policy.
