EDITORIAL: Jones Act ripe for repeal

Oct. 02--President Trump last week let slip his reason for not immediately suspending the Jones Act in aid of hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. The law requires shipments between American ports to be carried only on vessels built, owned and crewed by Americans.

"Well, we're thinking about that, but we have a lot of shippers and a lot of people and a lot of people who work in the shipping industry that don't want the Jones Act lifted," he told reporters at the White House, adding that there were "a lot of ships out there right now."

Well, points for honesty. The first part of his statement is essentially an acknowledgment that the shipping industry was calling the shots, pushing to uphold the protectionist policy.

Under mounting pressure the president did later waive the provisions of the law for Puerto Rico, for 10 days. But it really should be repealed entirely, rather than being waived only when disaster strikes and, in Trump's case, it becomes a political problem.

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 was enacted with good intentions, to foster a merchant shipping industry that could be pressed into service in times of national emergency or war. Defenders of the law insist it remains vital to national security, noting that it supports and ensures a vital U.S. shipbuilding industry.

But the law ultimately drives up the cost of goods to places including Puerto Rico, Alaska and Hawaii (the U.S. Virgin Islands are exempt, which just adds to the perplexing nature of the law).

Puerto Rico is confronting years of rebuilding, and higher-than-necessary costs when the provisions of the Jones Act are restored after 10 days. Congress and the Trump administration should put the economic interests of the people who live on islands dependent on maritime commerce ahead of the interests of "a lot of shippers." It's long past time to repeal this law.

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