Chinese Asphalt Tanker Makes Second U.S. Coastwise Voyage Under Jones Act Waiver

A Chinese-flagged asphalt tanker, JIN ZHOU WAN (operated by COSCO Shipping Asphalt Hainan), has completed at least two U.S. coastwise voyages under the Trump administration's emergency Jones Act waiver, transporting asphalt between domestic ports including New Jersey to Baltimore and Louisiana to Connecticut. The continued use of the waiver — originally justified by Strait of Hormuz disruptions — is generating significant controversy, with 138 completed waiver voyages recorded since March 2026.