A sweeping 60-day waiver of the Jones Act has drawn strong criticism from US maritime operators and labour groups, who warn it could undermine domestic shipping, jobs, and national security. Issued under emergency powers without assessing available US vessel capacity, the waiver allows foreign ships to transport energy and other goods between US ports. Industry stakeholders argue the move introduces market instability and offers little relief on fuel prices, which are primarily driven by global oil costs. Labour organizations have urged the administration to reverse course, citing risks to the US maritime workforce and supply chain resilience.
