Jones Act Waiver Reshapes U.S. Oil Trade as Foreign Tankers Flood Domestic Routes

The Trump administration’s emergency Jones Act waiver is rapidly reshaping U.S. oil flows, opening domestic shipping routes to foreign-flagged tankers and triggering trade patterns rarely seen in modern American energy markets.

New analysis from RBN Energy shows at least 60 waiver-approved shipments have moved crude oil and refined products between U.S. ports since the White House suspended key Jones Act restrictions in mid-March following the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The waiver has since been extended through August 17.

The result is that foreign tankers are now functioning as an extension of the U.S. domestic fuel distribution system.

More than 3 million barrels