Trump grants 90-day Jones Act waiver extension to curb energy costs

By Jarrett Renshaw

Fri, April 24, 2026 at 8:00 AM EDT 1 min read

By Jarrett Renshaw

April 24 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump granted a 90-day extension to a shipping ‌waiver that makes it easier to move ‌oil, fuel and fertilizer around the United States, the White ​House said on Friday, the latest effort to curb rising energy costs linked to the war with Iran.

The decision adds roughly three months to the ‌existing waiver that ⁠was set to expire on May 17, enabling foreign-flagged vessels to move commodities ⁠between U.S. ports through mid-August.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers confirmed on Friday that Trump had issued the ​extension.

"This waiver ​extension provides both certainty ​and stability for the ‌U.S. and global economies," Rogers said.

The Jones Act has long been a flashpoint between competing economic and national security priorities. Supporters, including U.S. shipbuilders, maritime unions and some lawmakers, argue the law is ‌critical to maintaining a ​domestic shipping industry and merchant ​marine that can ​support military logistics and national security.

But critics — ‌including energy producers, refiners ​and agricultural groups — ​say the requirement to use U.S.-built and -crewed vessels sharply raises shipping costs and limits capacity, ​particularly during ‌disruptions, driving up prices for fuel and other ​goods.

(Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw, Editing by William ​Maclean and Tomasz Janowski)