US Weighs Jones Act Waiver Extension After Foreign Tanker Delivers Crude Domestically

US officials are considering extending a temporary 60-day Jones Act waiver after a Malta-flagged tanker, HTM Warrior, successfully delivered Bakken crude from Phillips 66’s Beaumont, Texas terminal to Monroe Energy’s Trainer refinery in Pennsylvania. The waiver, issued by the Trump administration in March 2026 amid gasoline price spikes and fertilizer disruptions from the Iran war, allows foreign-flagged vessels to transport fuel between US ports. The tanker loaded in early April and discharged last week, providing logistical relief and potentially easing short-term fuel price pressures while reports suggest an extension could further alleviate bottlenecks.