US lifted Jones Act shipping restrictions for 60 days to help keep oil prices down.

• A. Jones Act; 60
• B. Patriot Act; 30
• C. Sherman Act; 45
• D. Dodd-Frank Act; 90

Answer: (A)

This item tests knowledge of which rule governs moving goods between U.S. ports and how a temporary relaxation can impact costs. The Jones Act, part of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, requires vessels moving goods between U.S. ports to be U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, and crewed by U.S. citizens. In normal times, that cabotage rule raises shipping costs by limiting competition. When the government issues a short-term waiver, it can allow foreign-flag ships to participate in that domestic shipping trade, increasing supply and helping lower costs, such as oil prices, during the waiver period. A 60-day window is a plausible length for such a temporary measure. The other laws mentioned regulate unrelated areas—security (Patriot Act), antitrust (Sherman Act), and financial regulation (Dodd-Frank)—and they aren’t tied to shipping restrictions or short-term waivers for energy pricing. So the pairing of the Jones Act with a 60-day waiver best fits the statement.