United States Extends Jones Act Waiver by 90 Days | energynews. pro
The White House announced Monday, August 10, 2026, a new 90-day extension of the Jones Act waiver, first activated in March 2026 amid tensions on oil markets linked to the conflict with Iran. The mechanism. . .
The White House announced Monday, August 10, 2026, a new 90-day extension of the Jones Act waiver, first activated in March 2026 amid tensions on oil markets linked to the conflict with Iran. The mechanism aims to facilitate the flow of energy products and fertilizers to U. S. ports and to contain rising gasoline prices. The oil sector, whosequarterly earnings at ExxonMobil and Chevron recently illustrated sensitivity to crude prices, is among the supporters of the measure. Unlike previous stages of the mechanism, this renewal does not change the scope of goods covered but alters the method by which waivers are granted. A voyage-by-voyage review instead of a blanket exemptionThe Jones Act, a century-old federal law governing maritime transport between U. S. ports, requires that ships operating this trade be built, owned and crewed by American interests. A temporary waiver, issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), exceptionally allows the use of foreign vessels when the administration determines that national defense or supply needs justify it. Since its activation, the mechanism has undergone several successive renewals, each granted for a set duration. The novelty announced today concerns the introduction of an individualized review of each voyage, replacing the blanket exemption previously granted by category of merchandise. The scope covered by the measure — energy products and fertilizers — remains unchanged and has characterized the mechanism since its inception; it is therefore not a new element. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright is among the officials associated with the matter within the administration. Opposition structured along sector linesThe issue pits two camps with diverging interests against each other. The executive branch and part of the oil and agricultural sector defend the mechanism as a tool for stabilizing energy prices and agricultural input costs. Conversely, the American maritime industry — shipowners, sailors' unions, shipyards — along with some Republican lawmakers, denounce a measure they say primarily benefits foreign operators not subject to U. S. tax and wage obligations, to the detriment of employment and the U. S. -flagged fleet. This opposition has already been voiced during previous extensions, notably by Jennifer Carpenter, president of the American Maritime Partnership (AMP), a trade association representing the domestic maritime sector. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke at the initial announcement of the mechanism on March 17, 2026, while the August 10 extension was presented by Taylor Rogers, Assistant Press Secretary at the White House. An announcement without a published administrative bulletinPrevious stages of the mechanism had been documented by precise bulletins published via the Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS), a system used by U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to formalize its administrative decisions. The extension announced this Monday relies, at this stage, only on spokesperson statements relayed by wire press, with no administrative bulletin published to verify the exact terms. This sourcing asymmetry distinguishes the current announcement from previous stages of the matter, which were marked by formal publication through the customs agency. The Maritime Administration (MARAD), a federal agency within the Department of Transportation responsible for domestic maritime transport, had also not published a separate communication at the time of research.