Episode description

Most people don’t think about global shipping and supply chains until a crisis spotlights these issues—from the hurricanes in Puerto Rico to the COVID-19 pandemic. But while the debate over cargo transport doesn’t often reach the kitchen table, it’s been going on for years in policy circles in Washington, with powerful interests involved on all sides of the debate. It traces back to the 1920 Jones Act, passed in the wake of World War I after German submarines had decimated American commercial ships. While the law was intended to bolster U.S. shipbuilding, has the law failed to achieve its goal? Critics argue it makes shipping more complicated and expensive, raising prices for consumers. Proponents respond that it's essential for national security and preserving domestic shipbuilding capacity. Should the law be repealed, left alone, or reformed? Gabriela Rodriguez, Policy Advisor at American Compass, joins the show to discuss. Follow Gabriela on Twitter here.

References: 

Gabriela’s piece, “The Ghosts of Navies Past: Rebooting the Jones Act for the 21st century”