Editorial Board

After Irma, America Should Scrap the Jones Act

The century-old law restricting trade between U.S. ports is a costly failure.

September 13, 2017 at 4:44 PM UTC

By The Editorial Board

The Editorial Board publishes the views of the editors across a range of national and global affairs.

Cui bono?
Photographer: Chris Goodney/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Another big hurricane, another temporary waiver of the Jones Act -- the 1920 law mandating that goods and passengers shipped between U.S. ports be carried in U.S.-flagged ships, constructed primarily in the U.S., owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by them or by U.S. legal permanent residents.

Circumstances did indeed demand a new stay on this dumb law -- but it would be better to get rid of it altogether, as Senator John McCain and others have argued.