U.S. President Donald Trump extended for 90 days a waiver allowing foreign ships to transport oil, fertilizers and other fossil fuel products between U.S. ports. This was reported by infohub.kz citing sources in the White House.
The initial waiver took effect on March 17. At that time, Trump sought to ease the transport of oil and refined fuels between ports and reduce price pressures after the start of the war with Iran. The latest extension will take effect on August 17. This indicates that the U.S. expects continued price pressures as the Strait of Hormuz, a primary waterway for shipping oil and natural gas, remains effectively closed.
Unlike previous extensions, the Pentagon will now consult with the Maritime Administration to determine which voyages are exempt from the 1920 law. The new waiver applies only to cargo that are sources of energy and commodities related to agriculture, such as fertilizers and soybean oil.
Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman, said the administration extended the waiver "to ensure our military and key industries maintain uninterrupted access to critical resources." She added that the waiver has increased domestic deliveries of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.