Opinion: The Case for the Jones Act: American Commerce, Workers, Security

ByJames L. Henry – For more than 130 days, President Trump has waived the Jones Act, letting foreign ships carry cargo between American ports. Supporters of the waiver call this free trade.

It isn’t.

Moving oil from Texas to New Jersey is domestic commerce, not trade, any more than a UPS truck crossing state lines is trade. Once you accept the “trade” framing, you’ve already lost the argument. This is a domestic commerce rule, not a trade barrier, and it shouldn’t be treated as one.

Waiver advocates also argue the Jones Act fleet is fully booked anyway, so