Jones Act Waiver

Jones Act Waiver

From Let's Know Things by Colin Wright

June 2, 2026 · 20 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the Merchant Marine Act, its historical context, and its implications for trade and competition.

This week we talk about the Merchant Marine Act, trade routes, and incentives. We also discuss Wesley Jones, foreign competition, and artificial monopolies. Recommended Book: The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi Transcript In 1920, the then-Senator for the state of Washington, Wesley Jones, who was also the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, introduced the Merchant Marine Act as a method by which the American merchant marine could be sustained and remain competitive in the face of external competition, and in the wake of the destruction of a bunch of ship during WWI. The US Merchant Marine is all the commercial water-going vessels that are US flagged, and the crews of these vessels. During peacetime, these boats and ships conduct trade and other services along the United States’ coasts and throughout its internal waterways, its rivers and lakes. During wartime, these vessels and their crews are tapped to help move troops and weapons and supplies for offensive or defensive military efforts. The theory of this proposed Act, then, was to ensure that the US Merchant Marine would remain well-funded and well-taken-care-of, because lacking some kind of government support, there…

People in this episode

Host: Colin Wright

Topics covered

  • Merchant Marine Act
  • trade routes
  • foreign competition
  • artificial monopolies
  • US Merchant Marine

Keywords

  • Merchant Marine Act
  • Wesley Jones
  • trade routes
  • US Merchant Marine
  • artificial monopolies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Merchant Marine Act, US Merchant Marine

Books & works: The Quantum Thief

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