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Trump temporarily waives the Jones Act to try to lower gasoline prices. Will it work?

What happened

President qatar-attacks.html" class="story-link" title="Trump threatens to blow up 'entirety' of major Iran gas field if it attacks Qata">Trump temporarily waived the Jones Act, a century-old law that restricts which ships can carry goods between U.S. ports, in an effort to reduce gasoline prices. The Jones Act typically requires that cargo moved between U.S. ports be carried on American-built, American-owned, and American-crewed vessels. The waiver is part of Trump's broader push to address rising energy costs.

Why people care

Gas prices directly hit everyone's wallet, making this a kitchen-table issue that gets immediate attention. The Jones Act has long been a contentious piece of protectionist legislation that critics say inflates shipping opening-trade-3192.html" class="story-link" title="Iran War: European Stocks Fall as Energy Costs Surge Again | The Opening Trade 3">costs, particularly affecting Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.

The takes

Supporters say

The waiver will help bring down gas prices by allowing more efficient foreign shipping between U.S. ports, reducing transportation costs. It's a pragmatic move that puts consumers first over protectionist policies that artificially inflate prices.

Experts say

Temporarily lifting the Jones Act will do little to actually affect gas prices, as shipping restrictions aren't a major factor in fuel costs. The move appears more symbolic than substantive, unlikely to produce the meaningful price relief promised.

Sources