How an Old Shipping Law Raises Consumer Prices The Jones Act, a relic of World War I era protectionism, has been making headlines in recent months for its unintended consequences on American consumers.
The law requires all shipments by water within the United States to be made on ships built, owned, and crewed by Americans, which was enacted in 1920 to support domestic shipbuilding.
However, in practice, the Jones Act has become a jobs program for U. S. shipowners at the expense of American consumers.