US waives Jones Act to ease fuel, fertilizer deliveries

Under the Jones Act, goods shipped between US ports must be carried on vessels that are US-built, US-flagged and mostly US-owned.

The requirement sharply limits the number of tankers available for domestic shipments, but is supported by maritime industry unions.

Waiving the rule temporarily would allow foreign ships to carry cargoes between US ports, potentially lowering shipping costs and speeding deliveries. Analysts have said, however, that the impact on pump prices will likely be minimal.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw, Gram Slattery and Jonathan Saul, editing by Richard Valdmanis and Chizu Nomiyama)