12.03.202623:17:34UTC+00U.S. May Tap Foreign Ships to Ease Energy Crunch

The Trump administration is considering a temporary waiver of the Jones Act, the century-old law that requires goods shipped between U.S. ports to be carried on U.S.-flagged vessels. The move is being explored as part of a broader effort to address surging oil and gasoline prices. According to Bloomberg News, a 30-day exemption would allow foreign-flagged ships to transport energy and agricultural products—including crude oil, gasoline, diesel, LNG, and fertilizer—between domestic ports. This could enable lower-cost international tankers to move crude from the Gulf Coast to East Coast refineries and to deliver fuel to densely populated areas more efficiently. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the proposal is under review “in the interest of national defence” to ensure that supplies can move freely, while emphasizing that no final decision has yet been made.