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Maritime transport: easier shipping when US vessels are unavailable

This bill creates a process to temporarily waive the requirement that only US ships can carry goods between American ports. By allowing foreign ships to step in when domestic ones are unavailable, it helps prevent product shortages and ensures goods reach consumers without unnecessary delays.
Key points
Temporary use of foreign ships for transport between US ports is allowed if no suitable US vessels are available.
Applicants must demonstrate a good faith effort to find a domestic carrier before requesting a waiver.
Agencies must decide on requests within 60 days; otherwise, the waiver is automatically granted for 30 days.
Waivers last at least 30 days and can be extended if the shortage of US ships continues.
Congress must be notified of all waiver requests and approvals within 48 hours, including detailed reasons.
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Status:
Introduced
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Additional Information
Protecting Access to American Products Act
Print number: HR 7900
Sponsor: Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
Process start date: 2026-03-12