US Senator John McCain has for the third time introduced legislation that would repeal the Jones Act that is officially named, the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. He first introduced legislation in the Senate to repeal the Jones Act in 2010.
The Jones Act requires all goods shipped between US ports be carried by US-built vessels, owned and operated by Americans.
"I have long advocated the repeal of the Jones Act, an archaic and burdensome law that hinders free trade, stifles the economy, and ultimately harms consumers," Mr McCain said in a statement announcing the bill, reported American Shipper.
"My legislation would eliminate this regulation, freeing American shippers from the requirement that they act against their own business interests. By allowing US shippers to purchase affordable foreign-made carriers, this legislation would reduce shipping costs, make American farmers and businesses more competitive in the global marketplace, and bring down the cost of goods and services for American consumers."
Mr McCain's Open American's Waters Act of 2017 would amend the US shipbuilding requirement for all commercial vessels employed in the coastwise trades of the US, as well as possibly affect the US ownership requirement, depending on the bill's interpretation.