President Donald Trump is to be congratulated on extending the waiver of the century-old Jones Act, which enables more oil to be shipped from the Gulf Coast to California and to the Northeast, reducing prices to American families.

The first waiver was granted for 60 days on March 17, then extended an additional 90 days from May 18 through Aug. 16. The second extension of the original waiver is narrower in scope but will nevertheless allow the shipment of critical materials when no alternative ship is available.

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The Jones Act, signed into law in 1920, limits shipping within U.S. ports to ships that are U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, U.S.-flagged, and U.S.-crewed. The law prohibits foreign vessels from transporting goods between U.S. ports.

The act was designed to encourage the construction of U.S. ships. But it has done the opposite. Since 2000, American shipbuilding has steadily weakened, and employment in the shipbuilding industry has declined.

The act raises the costs of all American goods........

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