For more than a century, a little-known shipping rule has quietly shaped the price Americans pay for everyday essentials, especially energy. Now, amid rising global tensions and surging fuel costs, that long-standing policy is back under the spotlight after decisive action from Donald Trump.
In remote parts of Alaska, residents were already dealing with punishing costs, with heating fuel soaring above $17 per gallon even before global supply chains tightened. When the Strait of Hormuz faced disruptions tied to escalating tensions with Iran, prices climbed even higher, squeezing communities that had few alternatives.
That pressure exposed the real-world impact of the Jones Act, a law dating back to 1920 that restricts domestic shipping to vessels built, owned, and operated by Americans. Originally signed by Woodrow Wilson, the policy was intended to strengthen national security and protect U.S. shipbuilding after World War I. But critics argue it has evolved into a costly bottleneck.
In March, Trump issued a temporary 60-day waiver of the Jones Act, opening the door for foreign-flagged tankers to transport oil between U.S. ports. The impact was immediate. With fewer than 100 oceangoing ships in the domestic fleet, the waiver dramatically expanded capacity almost overnight.
>> Click Here To Continue Reading <<
