Donald Trump waives Jones Act shipping restrictions to help Puerto Rico
US President Donald Trump, under pressure to do more for hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, is waiving restrictions on foreign ships transporting of cargo to the island.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Twitter Thursday that Mr Trump has authorised a waiver for the US territory for a little-known federal law that prohibits foreign-flagged ships from shuttling goods between US ports.
She said Mr Trump was responding to a request from Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello, and that the Jones Act waiver "will go into effect immediately".
Advocates who pressed for the waiver have said it could get desperately needed supplies delivered to the island more quickly and at a lower cost.
Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico more than a week ago and has left it without power and with little access to fuel and other supplies. Republicans and Democrats had urged Mr Trump to waive the Jones Act.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke had waived the law earlier this month to help ease fuel shortages in the southeastern US following hurricanes Harvey and Irma. That order included Puerto Rico, but expired last week shortly after Maria struck.
The Trump administration had said a waiver was not needed for Puerto Rico because there were enough US-flagged ships available to ferry goods to the island.
Mr Trump told reporters Wednesday that his administration was looking at a new waiver, but he said: "We have a lot of shippers and a lot of people and a lot of people that work in the shipping industry that don't want the Jones Act lifted."
Mr Rossello responded on Twitter to Mr Trump's action Thursday: "Thank you @POTUS."
Senator John McCain, in a tweet, noted that the administration "has finally waived" the Jones Act. He said: "Now Congress must repeal this law to aid long-term recovery."
