The White House is considering an extension of waivers to the Jones Act, a century-old US maritime law, as part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to reduce gasoline prices for American consumers.
The move comes as fuel costs remain elevated, with consumers increasingly attributing higher pump prices to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
The potential waiver would allow foreign tankers to transport fuel between US ports, bypassing the current requirement that domestic shipments be made on US-built, US-flagged vessels.
This regulatory flexibility is seen as a critical lever to alleviate supply chain bottlenecks that have contributed to domestic price pressures.
By opening the domestic market to more efficient international shipping options, the administration aims to inject additional supply into the US market and dampen inflationary pressures at the pump.
This development marks a shift in the administration’s approach to energy pricing.