Recent news stories and editorials have reignited the debate over the Jones Act, the century-old maritime law requiring that goods transported between U.S. ports be carried on American-built, American-owned, and American-crewed ships.
Opponents, including Hawai‘i Congressman Ed Case and the corporate-backed Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, have claimed that the Jones Act drives up prices and limits economic opportunity for island residents. But these arguments fail to hold water. Here’s what you need to know: