US President Donald Trump on Friday issued a 90-day extension of his Jones Act waiver, allowing non-US ships to carry oil between American ports in a bid to lower domestic fuel prices.
“President Trump issued a 90-day extension to the Jones Act waiver. New data compiled since the initial waiver was issued revealed that significantly more supply was able to reach U.S. ports faster,” spokesperson Taylor Rogers said on US social media platform X.
“This waiver extension provides both certainty and stability for the U.S. and global economies. The Trump Administration has taken several actions to mitigate short-term disruptions to the energy markets, and this extension will help ensure vital energy products, industrial materials, and agricultural necessities are maintained,” she added.
The Jones Act is a 1920 statute requiring goods transported between US ports to be carried on American-built, American-owned and American-crewed vessels.
Trump initially issued a 60-day waiver on March 18 amid rising fuel prices linked to the Iran war, aiming to ease domestic supply bottlenecks and stabilize energy costs.
The latest extension will take effect at 12:00 am Eastern Time (0500GMT) on May 18, meaning it will remain in effect through at least August. The extension was issued early to facilitate the logistical needs of the maritime industry, according to the White House.