Trump narrows, extends Jones Act waiver

President Donald Trump has extended a waiver to the Jones Act for 90 days, allowing foreign-flagged ships to carry certain goods between U.S. ports. The extension was finalized on Monday, August 10, 2026, and is scheduled to take effect on August 17, 2026. The measure continues temporary relief from long-standing shipping rules that generally require domestic movements by U.S.-flagged, U.S.-owned and U.S.-operated vessels.

The White House said the decision aims "to ensure our military and key industries maintain uninterrupted access to critical resources." Officials also stated that use of the waiver has increased domestic deliveries of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, highlighting its role in moving refined products within the country.

The latest extension tightens the scope of the waiver compared with earlier iterations. The relief now applies only to energy-related cargoes and agricultural commodities, including oil, fertilizers and soybean oil, rather than to a broader range of goods. This concentrates the policy on shipments viewed as most critical for fuel and food supply chains.

Eligible cargoes include fossil fuel products and other energy sources, as well as commodities linked to agriculture and food. By restricting coverage to these categories, the administration is seeking to maintain targeted support for key markets while limiting the breadth of exemptions from the Jones Act’s requirements.

Under the renewed waiver, exemptions will no longer be granted in blanket form. Each individual voyage seeking to use a foreign-flagged vessel between U.S. ports will require a case-by-case review. This structure is intended to determine whether a particular shipment qualifies under the narrowed criteria for energy and agricultural products.

Going forward, the Pentagon must consult with the U.S. Maritime Administration before deciding whether the waiver will apply to any given voyage. The consultation will assess whether Jones Act-compliant ships are available to perform the movement. Only when such vessels are deemed unavailable, or when other criteria are met, can foreign ships receive an exemption under the waiver.

This additional oversight introduces a new layer of scrutiny to each request, while preserving the temporary flexibility to use foreign-flagged ships for selected cargoes. The combination of targeted eligibility and case-by-case review reflects an effort to balance supply needs with consideration of the domestic maritime sector.