Trump waives U.S. shipping law for oil and gas in bid to lower prices

The Jones Act mandates that cargo carried between U.S. ports must be transported on U.S.-flagged, -built and -owned ships. The waiver exempts those requirements for some cargoes, allowing foreign vessels to temporarily ship several products. That includes coal, crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, natural gas liquids, fertilizer, anything using refined petroleum products as a primary feedstock and other energy derivatives, according to White House officials who asked for anonymity because details of the authorization were not yet public.