Editorial Board

For Puerto Rico's Sake, Scrap the Jones Act

Forcing the island to use U.S. ships for mainland trade will make its recovery harder.

October 13, 2017 at 12:30 PM UTC

By The Editorial Board

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

Stop jonesing on Puerto Rico.
Photographer: Alex Wroblewski/Bloomberg

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With the nearly century-old Jones Act put back in force, battered Puerto Rico's future just got even darker. The Department of Homeland Security's decision to end the commonwealth's waiver from the law means that its seaborne commerce with the mainland must again be carried on ships owned, built and crewed by Americans.

The island's people -- also Americans, if the administration needs reminding -- are still in extreme distress, and this policy will obstruct and delay their recovery. Reinstating the act in such circumstances is inexcusable.