Sacramento, CA – The California Fuels & Convenience Alliance (CFCA) commends President Trump for issuing a temporary waiver of the Jones Act to help alleviate fuel supply constraints. The waiver will allow fuel supplies to move more easily between U.S. ports at a time when global supply disruptions are driving up oil and gasoline prices.

By temporarily waiving the Jones Act, CFCA members across California’s fuel supply chain such as fuel marketers, common carriers, and gas station convenience store operators may see relief from supply bottlenecks that have contributed to higher rack prices. Greater tanker availability on domestic waterborne routes can improve fuel transportation flexibility for the businesses responsible for moving fuel throughout the state. For convenience store operators who sell fuel, more stable prices are also critical, as spikes at the pump often lead consumers to cut back on in-store purchases, which is a necessary source of revenue for many small and mid-sized operators.

“The issuing of this waiver underscores the importance of seriously considering broader modernization and reform of the Jones Act,” said Elizabeth Graham, CEO of the California Fuels & Convenience Alliance. “While the law was originally intended to support a strong domestic shipbuilding industry and protect national security, the current structure of the Jones Act creates restrictions that forces California to rely on longer international supply routes instead of more direct shipments between U.S. ports. Allowing fuel to move more efficiently within our own country can reduce costs, improve supply reliability, and strengthen energy security.”

This is an issue CFCA has been actively raising with policymakers, particularly with federal representatives, as a way to strengthen West Coast fuel supply and protect national security. At its inaugural CA/DC Energy Summit in Washington, D.C. last October, CFCA convened policymakers and industry leaders to discuss federal actions that could stabilize California’s energy prices and improve supply reliability. Among the key solutions discussed was reforming the Jones Act, the same issue now being addressed through the administration’s temporary waiver.

The global disruptions currently impacting California’s fuel market demonstrate the importance of continuing this conversation. To that end, CFCA will host the CA Energy Symposium this July across multiple regions throughout California. The event will bring together the many industries impacted by California’s energy policies alongside local, state, and federal policymakers to collaborate on practical solutions that strengthen California’s fuel supply and to highlight how energy policies impact far more than the fuel industry.

CFCA hopes the current waiver will help spark broader discussions about long-term solutions that strengthen domestic energy transportation, protect supply reliability, and reduce price volatility for consumers and small businesses.