US temporarily waives Jones act to support farmers during planting season

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a temporary 60-day waiver of the Jones Act, a law enacted in 1920 that requires all shipments between U.S. ports to be carried on American-built, American-flagged vessels with predominantly U.S. crews. Under this waiver, foreign-flagged ships can now transport fuel, fertilizers, and other goods between U.S. ports, aiming to ease the impact of sharp price increases and supply disruptions caused by the conflict with Iran.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the move represents “another step to mitigate short-term shocks in the energy market” while U.S. military forces continue the objectives of Operation Epic Fury. The temporary waiver opens access to a larger pool of vessels, including foreign ships, for moving gasoline, diesel, and fertilizers between ports.

U.S. farming organizations welcomed the decision. Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, noted that the recent surge in fuel and fertilizer costs, along with the risk of shortages, has hit rural America hard, especially during the spring planting season. According to Duvall, the temporary waiver will help stabilize fuel and fertilizer supply, reduce financial pressure on farmers, and ensure a smooth start to the season.

At the same time, analysts caution that the measure is unlikely to significantly lower retail prices for fuel or fertilizers. Energy costs remain elevated due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which blocked roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows—critical feedstocks for nitrogen fertilizer production. Nevertheless, the Jones Act waiver demonstrates a pragmatic approach by the administration in a crisis, aimed at supporting farmers and ensuring stable fertilizer supplies across the country.

Tags: fertilizers, USA