by Michael Hansen, Hawaii Shippers Council, May 7, 2015

James Jay Carafano, PhD., Vice President, Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation, offers in an op-ed dated May 6, 2015, a seven point recovery plan for the next president of the United States (i.e., President Obama’s successor), which includes repealing the Jones Act.

Key excerpts quote:

Foreign policy should work to advance a constructive agenda—something that’s been largely lacking in the Obama era. Hopefully, the next president will come up with appropriate actions to fill that void. As a cornerstone of that effort, I would suggest a commitment to promoting free trade and more liberal markets worldwide.

A fresh focus on free-market policies will require stepping out with more nimble and bold initiatives, rather than slogging through the ponderous procedures used to hash out high-profile multistate trade agreements or plowing through the bureaucracy of international and multinational trade regimes....

Step #3: Sink the Jones Act. An associated initiative—repealing the Jones Act—would greatly enhance the U.S. position as a global energy-market leader. It would also boost U.S. competitiveness across the maritime domain, particularly in regards to transporting energy resources. A blatantly protectionist measure, the Jones Act, has needlessly hamstrung U.S. competitiveness in shipbuilding, trade and maritime services for eighty-five years.

Heritage: After Obama: A 7-Step Recovery Plan for America