The Jones Act obstructs disaster relief efforts, inflating costs and worsening crises.

• Puerto Ricans faced a fuel shortage after a recent hurricane, with an oil tanker offshore ready to provide assistance.
• However, the US government prevented the oil tanker from docking due to the Jones Act, which prohibits non-US-built and -crewed ships from transporting goods between American ports.
• The Jones Act increases costs for consumers and exacerbates crises, such as the situation in Puerto Rico.

In the aftermath of a hurricane, Puerto Ricans found themselves in dire need of fuel, but the US government’s enforcement of the Jones Act prevented an oil tanker from providing assistance, highlighting the detrimental impact of the law on disaster relief efforts. Amid accusations of manipulation from the shipping lobby, the debate over the Jones Act’s efficacy and consequences intensifies.

Source:

https://nypost.com/2023/03/03/the-jones-act-hurts-us-shipping-and-consumers-kill-it/