Rethinking the Jones Act: Reducing Economic Burdens for Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, and Other Isolated U.S. Regions

[Daniel_Ambrose]

I propose that we update the act to combat the subsidies that foreign counties give to their shipbuilders. Instead of given in to them, we should penalize this behavior. We need to use tariffs and fees to combat this uncompetitive practice.

Update to Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (Jones Act)

Updated Jones Act Recommendations 1. Introduction of Tonnage-Based Fees for Subsidized Foreign-Built Ships New Regulation: A flat fee based on tonnage will be imposed on all ships built by countries that provide significant subsidies to their shipbuilding industry. This fee will apply to any foreign-built vessel imported into the U.S. Fee Structure: The fee will be calculated as a clear, flat rate per gross ton, with rates adjusted according to the level of subsidies in the country of origin. H…