The Jones Act is one of those laws that should've been repealed long ago, but persists because it allows a few special interest groups to feed at the expense of everyone else.
"More formally known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, the Jones Act mandates that goods traveling by water between U.S. ports be carried on ships that are built in the U.S., registered in the U.S., at least 75% American-owned, and at least 75% U.S.-crewed.
The results have been universally abysmal. The Jones Act reduces choice and competition among shipping providers, driving transportation costs higher. A 2015 report by a group of economists, including former World Bank chief economist Anne Krueger, found that shipping costs to Puerto Rico are twice that of neighboring islands — costs that are then passed along to consumers. "
"More formally known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, the Jones Act mandates that goods traveling by water between U.S. ports be carried on ships that are built in the U.S., registered in the U.S., at least 75% American-owned, and at least 75% U.S.-crewed.
The results have been universally abysmal. The Jones Act reduces choice and competition among shipping providers, driving transportation costs higher. A 2015 report by a group of economists, including former World Bank chief economist Anne Krueger, found that shipping costs to Puerto Rico are twice that of neighboring islands — costs that are then passed along to consumers. "