While the Jones Act harms Puerto Rico (“Repeal the Jones Act for Puerto Rico’s future,” Dec. 15), the claim that the law “forces Puerto Rico to route trade through U.S. ports” is inaccurate. The law requires that vessels transporting goods between U.S. ports be U.S.-flagged, U.S.-built, and at least 75 percent U.S.-owned. Ships meeting these requirements are much costlier to build and operate than their internationally-flagged counterparts.

Indeed, Jones Act-compliant shipping is so expensive that it deters commerce between Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland. Instead of buying American products, goods ranging from corn to jet fuel are often purchased from foreign sources to avoid the Jones Act’s high costs.

But sometimes, buying American isn’t even an option. Although liquified propane is regularly exported worldwide from Marcus Hook, Puerto Rico must purchase its supplies from as far away as Chile due to a total lack of Jones Act-compliant tankers to transport it from the U.S. mainland. Pennsylvania natural gas can’t make it to Puerto Rico for the same reason.

Such facts help explain why a 2024 academic study found that the Jones Act imposes annual costs to Puerto Rico of $203 per citizen.

If Congress and the incoming Donald Trump administration seek to help Puerto Rico, few measures would help more than repealing this burdensome and misguided law.