The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) and 17 other free-market organisations have urged United States President, Donald Trump, to issue a new waiver of the Jones Act to ease prices and increase the supply of oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other essential commodities.

The groups in a letter sent to Trump, said extending and expanding the most recent Jones Act waiver, which expires November 15, will ease price pressures and supply disruptions by allowing more vessels to transport essential commodities to Americans.

The Jones Act, an ageing shipping law, has been criticised by the organisations for raising costs and creating bottlenecks in maritime commerce.

“Jones Act waivers are a major, historic win for Americans. Previous waivers are currently helping prices, and we should extend and expand the waiver so Americans around the country enjoy abundant goods and fuel supply beyond November 15”, NTU Free Trade Initiative Director, Bryan Riley, said.

According to the groups, shippers had used the flexibility provided by Jones Act waivers issued earlier this year to transport millions of barrels of gasoline and diesel fuel to U.S. markets.

They added that more petroleum products had been delivered to the West Coast than in any year on record.

“Acting now will allow Americans to plan to unleash additional supplies of diesel fuel, heating oil and other goods. It is particularly imperative that the waiver remain in place during the coming cold weather months”, the letter read.

The organisations urged Trump to make the next waiver stronger by extending it for longer periods and expanding the categories of goods that could be transported under the waiver.

They however expressed concern over a new regulation included in the most recent extension requiring shippers to obtain prior approval for shipments.

The groups argued that the requirement had significantly weakened efforts to bolster domestic shipping, noting that only 19 voyages have been authorised under the stricter waiver, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration.