The Jones Act Is Unconstitutional

The Jones Act, which prohibits foreign vessels from transporting goods between US ports, costs the US economy over a billion dollars annually. A constitutional challenge to the Jones Act could bring relief to those on America’s geographic peripheries who have been ignored for too long.

April 25, 2023 . 3:06 AM

1 min read

The Jones Act, which prohibits foreign vessels from transporting goods between US ports, costs the US economy over a billion dollars annually.
The Port Preference Clause in the Constitution prohibits Congress from giving preference to one state's ports over another.
The Jones Act violates the Port Preference Clause, which could be grounds for a constitutional challenge.
The Jones Act benefits the domestic shipping industry at the expense of citizens living in noncontiguous US states like Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
A constitutional challenge to the Jones Act could provide relief to those living in the US periphery.