Politics

BREAKING NEWS: Trump Waives Jones Act Shipping Restrictions For Puerto Rico

Reuters Contributor
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(Reuters/The Daily Caller) – White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced Thursday that the Trump administration had waived Jones Act shipping restrictions for Puerto Rico so that hurricane relief aid may reach the island.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello said on Wednesday he expected the federal government to waive the Jones Act.

He said he has been speaking with members of Congress from both parties who have supported an emergency waiver.

“We expect them to waive it,” Rossello said in an interview with CNN. He noted there was a seven-day waiver after Hurricane Irma, which was much less devastating to the island.

“That is critical, particularly for fuel,” he said. “One of the considerations right now is the priority of getting fuel, diesel, gasoline, all across the island. Right now we have enough fuel. We’re limited by the transportation logistics, but at some point of course, getting fuel into the island is going to be critical so that we can have the major functions of telecoms, hospitals, water, to be running appropriately.”

The Jones Act requires that all goods shipped between U.S. ports be carried by American owned-and-operated ships.

U.S. Senator John McCain asked acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke on Tuesday to grant an emergency waiver of the law. He said that Puerto Rican residents would have to pay at least twice as much for food, drinking water and other supplies without the waiver.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

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