Puerto Rico: Trump Waives Jones Act But Makes Hurricane Evacuees Pay Airfare

The U.S. government has waived the Jones Act for Puerto Rico, lifting trade restrictions on foreign ships that are providing aid to the hurricane-ravaged island, while at the same time making evacuees sign a promise to pay their airfare in full, according to Market Watch.

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The Department of State says on its website, "Anyone evacuated on U.S.-government coordinated transport ... must sign an Evacuee Manifest and Promissory Note prior to departure," adding that authorities will keep the evacuee's passport as collateral forcing them to "arrange payment as agreed upon via the promissory note."

In addition, evacuees are required to pay pre-Hurricane Maria prices based on "the last commercial one-way, full-fare economy ticket prior to the crisis.” The state department loans will not accept discounted or online airfares.

The Jones Act requires that all goods shipped between U.S. ports be carried by U.S.-owned and operated ships. Trump had previously waived the Jones Act after hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit the states of Florida and Texas.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello said Wednesday he expected the government to eliminate the law in order to alleviate the taxes charged to ships bringing food, water, and other supplies to the Caribbean nation.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the U.S. President Donald Trump heard Rossello's request and ordered the waiver.

"It will go into effect immediately," Sanders said on her Twitter account.

The waiver comes after U.S. President Donald Trump reminded the island of its "massive" US$73 billion debt, which the territory "owed to Wall Street and the banks."