White House studies permanent Jones Act waiver for Puerto Rico: sources

Washington (Platts)--12 Mar 2018 (excerpts)

The Trump White House is studying the feasibility of a permanent Jones Act waiver for Puerto Rico, according to multiple sources.

A working group of Trump administration officials are studying the issue, but there is no clear time line for the study's release, according to administration sources.

It is also unclear if the Trump administration would lift Jones Act requirements for Puerto Rico even if the study recommends doing so, sources said.

"I don't think they'd be able to do it without legislation," according to one source familiar with the group's work.

One issue the group is grappling with is how to justify a waiver for Puerto Rico while keeping Jones Act requirements for other US ports, such as Hawaii, sources said….

One source said that, without finding a permanent waiver in the interest of national defense, the Trump administration appears unable to issue such a waiver without congressional support….

read … Hawaii???