The Trump administration is weighing a temporary pause on a century old shipping rule as officials search for ways to slow rising gasoline and oil prices across the United States.
The policy under review centers on the Jones Act, a law that governs how goods move between American ports. The White House is considering issuing a 30 day waiver that would allow foreign vessels to transport fuel and other essential commodities along domestic shipping routes.
Officials familiar with the discussions say the proposal remains under development, but it reflects growing concern inside Washington about the economic ripple effects of rising energy prices.
Jones Act waiver could reshape fuel transport
The Jones Act requires that cargo traveling between US ports be carried on ships that are built in the United States, flagged in the United States and primarily crewed by American workers.
The rule has shaped domestic shipping for more than one hundred years. Supporters argue it protects national security and the American maritime industry. Critics say it raises costs and limits the number of vessels available to move energy and other goods.
A temporary Jones Act waiver would loosen those restrictions. Foreign tankers could move oil, gasoline, diesel and liquefied natural gas between ports in the United States. Fertilizer shipments could also be included.
Energy analysts say the move could allow cheaper vessels to transport fuel from the Gulf Coast to refineries and distribution hubs along the East Coast and other regions that rely on imports.
The change would not erase price pressure at the pump. However it could make domestic shipments faster and less expensive.
Fuel prices push White House to explore options
The administration began examining the waiver as gasoline and diesel prices climbed in recent weeks. National gasoline prices have reached about $3.60 per gallon, the highest level since mid 2024. Diesel prices have risen even higher, approaching levels last seen in late 2022.
Much of the pressure on energy markets stems from instability in the Middle East. Attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted supply routes and raised fears of prolonged disruptions in global oil flows.
The narrow waterway carries roughly one fifth of the world’s oil shipments. Any instability in the region quickly ripples through global energy markets and US fuel costs.
Officials say the Jones Act waiver is one of several options under consideration as the administration seeks to reduce pressure on consumers and industries that depend on fuel.
Limited impact expected on gasoline prices
Energy experts caution that a temporary waiver would not dramatically lower prices. Instead it could slow the pace of increases in regions that rely on imported fuel.
Those areas include parts of the West Coast and the Northeast where local refining capacity is limited and shipments from other regions often face logistical hurdles.
Allowing foreign tankers to carry fuel between American ports could increase supply flexibility and reduce shipping bottlenecks.
Some analysts estimate the move might slow price increases by about five cents per gallon in the short term. The broader direction of oil prices will still depend on global supply conditions and geopolitical developments.
Farm and industry groups press for relief
The debate over the Jones Act waiver has drawn attention from agriculture and energy sectors that rely heavily on shipping networks.
Farm organizations have warned that supply disruptions tied to Middle East tensions could push fertilizer prices higher. Limited domestic shipping capacity has made it harder to move agricultural inputs and fuel to certain regions.
Industry groups argue that temporarily opening US shipping routes to foreign vessels could help stabilize supply chains while international tensions remain high.
Jones Act waivers have been granted before, though only rarely. The federal government has issued them after major disasters such as hurricanes when fuel shortages threatened regional economies.
Whether the administration moves forward with the proposal remains uncertain. Officials say a final decision has not yet been made, but discussions continue as the White House weighs the economic and political stakes of rising fuel costs.
