# USA Extend Jones Act Waiver – But Only on Case-by-Case Basis **Category:** Regulation | **Source:** Frachtportal Redaktion | **Published:** 2026-08-13 | **Updated:** 2026-08-14 **Tags:** Jones Act, USA, Seefracht, US-Küstenschifffahrt, Tanker, Öltransport, Treibstoff, Kabotage, US-Häfen, Versorgungssicherheit, Geopolitik, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Schienentransport > The USA extends the Jones Act waiver for 90 days. Foreign vessels remain authorized, but new voyages require individual approval --- The US government is extending the temporary waiver of the so-called Jones Act for an additional 90 days. This allows foreign vessels to continue being used for certain transports between two US ports. The previous exemption would have expired on August 16. The **Jones Act** is a US regulation for domestic maritime shipping that is more than 100 years old. Simplified, goods transported between two US ports must normally be carried by ships that were built in the US, are owned by US owners, and are operated by American crews. This very regulation is being relaxed again due to tight supply conditions. The background includes disruptions to global oil supplies due to the conflict with Iran as well as high fuel prices in the US. The focus is particularly on gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other goods that are critical for the economy and supply chains. However, the extension is now being applied more narrowly. Foreign shipping companies do not receive blanket authorization for any domestic US transports. **Each voyage will be reviewed individually going forward.** Among other factors, it will be relevant whether a suitable US vessel is available and whether the exemption is necessary for reasons of national supply or defense. The relaxation is already being used extensively. According to US government data, approximately **208 exemptions** were granted within roughly four and a half months by August 3. This shows that this is not merely a theoretical emergency rule. For the American maritime industry, this topic remains politically sensitive. US shipping companies, shipyards, and maritime associations view the exemptions critically because foreign vessels gain access to a market that is normally expressly reserved for US ships. Energy companies, on the other hand, welcome the additional transport capacity. --- For European freight forwarders, the Jones Act is normally not a daily concern. However, it becomes interesting as soon as shipments within the USA are part of an international supply chain. For example, if you want to ship energy products or other affected goods via one US port to a second US port, you cannot automatically assume that a foreign vessel can be used. The key change therefore reads as follows: The exemption remains, but planning certainty becomes smaller. A specific voyage can be approved, but must be reviewed. For charterers, shippers, and project freight forwarders, this means additional lead time and documentation. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires detailed information on cargo, vessel, ports, schedules, and the reason why no suitable US ship is available for normal Jones Act exemption applications. Those planning such shipments should therefore not factor in the exemption as fixed capacity before the approval is actually in hand. In short: The USA continues to allow foreign vessels in its protected coastal shipping – but no longer on a blanket basis. Each additional voyage must now be justified and approved in greater detail. --- The US government confirmed the extension on August 10, 2026. The Jones Act waiver will be extended for an additional 90 days. The previous waiver would have expired on August 16, 2026. Foreign vessels can continue to conduct transport operations between US ports under the waiver. Going forward, individual voyages are to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis instead of through a broad blanket exemption. As of August 3, approximately 208 waivers had been granted according to government data. A key focus area is gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other essential supply commodities. For Jones Act waivers, justification must fundamentally be provided as to why the waiver is necessary in the interest of national defense or supply security. Operators of voyages under a waiver remain subject to reporting and documentation obligations to CBP and MARAD. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [United States of America](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/us) ### Glossary - [deep-sea shipping](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/deep-sea-shipping) - [cabotage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cabotage) - [Shipping company](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipping-company) - [Maritime transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/maritime-transport-2) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Bulk Liquid Cargo Shipping](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/bulk-liquid-cargo-shipping) - [Cabotage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cabotage-2) - [Cabotage Agreement Management](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cabotage-agreement-management) - [cabotage transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cabotage-transport) - [Inland Waterway Transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/inland-waterway-transport) - [Jones Act (US Maritime Law for Domestic Shipping)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/jones-act-us-maritime-law-for-domestic-shipping) - [Jones Act Cargo Risk Management](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/jones-act-cargo-risk-management) - [Jones Act Compliance in U.S. Maritime Logistics](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/jones-act-compliance-in-u-s-maritime-logistics) - [Jones Act Shipping Fleet Management](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/jones-act-shipping-fleet-management) - [Jones Act Trade Shipping](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/jones-act-trade-shipping) - [Jones Act Waiver Procedures for Cargo Movement](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/jones-act-waiver-procedures-for-cargo-movement) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/usa-verlaengern-jones-act-ausnahme-aber-nur-noch-nach-einzelfallpruefung-20260812193217](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/usa-verlaengern-jones-act-ausnahme-aber-nur-noch-nach-einzelfallpruefung-20260812193217)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/usa-verlaengern-jones-act-ausnahme-aber-nur-noch-nach-einzelfallpruefung-20260812193217](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/usa-verlaengern-jones-act-ausnahme-aber-nur-noch-nach-einzelfallpruefung-20260812193217)*