By Jennifer A. Dlouhy
On November 14, 2026, President Donald Trump has decided to give energy companies and traders more time to move oil and other products across the US using foreign-flagged ships. This decision aims to reduce fuel costs.
Trump has extended the waiver of some requirements of the Jones Act, a law that mandates cargo between US ports must be transported on American-owned, -flagged, and -operated vessels. This new extension will last for 90 days and will take effect at midnight on Monday, which ensures there won't be any gap after the previous waiver expires, according to a White House official who requested anonymity.
This decision highlights the administration's ongoing worries about high energy prices due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, especially after the Democrats won big against Republicans in the recent midterm elections focused on living costs.
Trump did not change the details of the relief after previously making it more restrictive in August. Back then, a process was introduced requiring the government to review vessel availability on a case-by-case basis.
Some shipbuilders and their supporters in Congress opposed extending the waiver, arguing that it undermines important protections they believe are necessary for strengthening the domestic shipbuilding industry.
On the other hand, oil and chemical companies have praised the waiver for helping them move crude, fertilizers, and other products more quickly and affordably between US ports. This has helped compensate for supply issues caused by the situation in Iran and damages to refineries in Russia.
Since Trump first eased Jones Act rules in March, there have been about 338 voyages on foreign vessels, including shipments of Texas crude oil to Pennsylvania and propane to Puerto Rico, as per data from the Cato Institute.
California has received the most shipments, with an additional 23 million barrels sent to the state compared to 8 million barrels during the same time last year, the White House official reported.
Since the waiver was first implemented, around 90 million barrels of products—mostly refined fuels—have been shipped between US ports. This includes significant amounts of gasoline, crude oil, and renewable fuels. Currently, under the waiver, about 13 million barrels of products have been transported, with gasoline making up over a third and crude oil about 28%.
However, the use of the waiver has decreased since Trump narrowed its scope.
Under the latest regulations, the US Maritime Administration must be consulted about the availability of US-flagged, -owned, and -operated vessels before the waiver can be applied to specific journeys.
Products eligible for the waiver include gasoline, jet fuel, crude oil, naphtha, liquefied natural gas, soybean oil, and fertilizers.
Trump's Jones Act exemption is the longest and most extensive in over 70 years. Previous presidents have temporarily lifted Jones Act rules for individual trips or short periods after hurricanes and pipeline outages disrupted fuel supplies.