President Donald Trump has extended a temporary waiver of the century-old Jones Act for another 90 days, allowing oil, fuel, and fertilizer to be transported between U.S. ports aboard foreign-flagged vessels. The move is intended to expand shipping options and help reduce transportation costs as the administration works to lower energy prices.

The Jones Act generally requires cargo transported between American ports to be carried on vessels that are built, owned, and registered in the United States and crewed by Americans. The law has long restricted the use of foreign ships in domestic maritime commerce, limiting the number of vessels available to move certain goods between U.S. ports.

The previous waiver extension took effect August 17 and allowed companies to use foreign-flagged vessels for eligible shipments, but required approval for each individual voyage. Requests had to identify the vessel, its flag, owner and operator, the cargo being transported, and the ports where the shipment would be loaded and discharged.

The additional 90 days gives energy companies and traders more time to arrange domestic shipments without being limited to vessels that meet all of the Jones Act's requirements. The extension also provides continued flexibility for transporting fertilizer and other essential commodities between U.S. ports.